Layer cake-silicone oil under the internal limiting membrane in an optic pit eye

To describe a case of sub-internal limiting membrane (ILM) silicone oil dislocation in a patient with optic pit of the disk pathology.

Interventional case report. The patient had been previously subjected to silicone oil surgery because of pit of the disk-associated retinal detachment. After silicone oil removal, persistent oil emulsifications were diagnosed within the posterior pole. Both the spatial location within the retina and the interpretation of preoperative spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images were impaired because of posterior capsule opacification.

Upon explorative revitrectomy, mobile silicone oil appeared underneath a clear membrane. Internal limiting membrane peeling led to silicone oil ascension into the vitreous cavity. The macular area appeared atrophic after oil removal. Previously described formation of internal limiting membrane ridges in optic pit with subsequent emergence of sub-internal limiting membrane cavities may have facilitated silicone oil dislocation into sub-internal limiting membrane space through the optic pit.

Our findings add to the features of possible spatial fluid dislocations in patients with pit of the disk pathology. Complete internal limiting membrane removal and careful evaluation of tamponade use, are desirable in surgical treatment of optic pit cases.