Pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

A retrospective study is reported on 106 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, treated by vitrectomy and silicone oil injection. Indications were traction detachment in 91 eyes and nonclearing rebleeding in 15 eyes; 31 eyes had previously had vitrectomy. Anatomical success was obtained at the end surgery in 91 eyes, and after a minimum follow-up of 6 months in 68 eyes (64%). Functional results were as follows: satisfactory visual acuity (0.5-0.05) in 23 eyes (22%), ambulatory vision (0.03-CF) in 14 eyes (13%), HM-LP in 54 eyes (51%), and NLP in 15 eyes (14%). The functional results are limited by recurrent detachments due to characteristic reproliferations under the silicone bubble or by ischemic diabetic angiopathy in the attached retina. A positive effect of silicone oil is demonstrated in the reduction of preexisting or postoperatively new iris neovascularization and in preventing postoperative rebleeding.