Silicone oil in the surgical treatment of endophthalmitis associated with retinal detachment

To investigate the use of silicone oil in the patients who had undergone vitrectomy for the treatment of endophthalmitis associated with retinal detachment.

Six consecutive cases of endophthalmitis associated with retinal detachment were included in the study. The mean age of the 4 males and 2 females was 47.25 +/- 23.76 years. Endophthalmitis associated with retinal detachment occurred following perforating injuries in 4 eyes, pneumatic retinopexy in I eye and cataract surgery complicated with vitreous loss in I eye. Preoperative visual acuity was light perception-only in all eyes. Red reflex was absent in all eyes. All the patients underwent vitreous tapping, encirclement, vitrectomy, liquid-gas exchange, endolaser photocoagulation and silicone oil injection.

Mean follow-up time was 14.3 +/- 7.20 months. The microorganisms that were isolated from the vitreous aspiration were Staphylococcus epidermidis in 3 cases, Staphylococcus aureus in 1 case. Remaining cases were culture negative. Retinal breaks could be found in 4 eyes. Inflammation subsided significantly at 5 days in all cases. Final retinal reattachment and treatment of endophthalmitis was achieved in 5 eyes at the end of follow-up. Final visual acuity was 20/40 in I case, counting finger in 4 cases and no light perception in 1 case. The postoperative complications were optic atrophy in 1 eye, epiretinal membrane in 2 eyes and phitisis bulbi in 1 eye.

Silicone oil, a retinal tamponading agent that has antimicrobial activity, may have benefical effect in the surgical treatment of endophthalmitis associated with retinal detachment.