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PREMATURE EMULSIFICATION OF SILICONE OIL AFTER RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR IN THE SETTING OF HIGH-INTENSITY EXERCISE
Lucy V Cobbs1, Rebecca Russ Soares, Marc Spirn
1Retina Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Mid Atlantic Retina, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Purpose:
To describe a rare case of silicone oil emulsification that occurred only three months postoperatively. We discuss the implications for postoperative counseling.
Methods:
Retrospective chart review of a single patient.
Results:
Thirty-nine-year-old woman who presented with a right eye macula-on retinal detachment that was repaired with scleral buckle, vitrectomy, and silicone oil tamponade. Her course was complicated by extensive silicone oil emulsification within 3 months postoperatively, most likely because of shear forces induced by her daily CrossFit exercise regimen.
Conclusion:
Typical postoperative precautions after a retinal detachment repair include no heavy lifting or strenuous activity for one week. These restrictions may need to be more stringent and long-term for patients with silicone oil to prevent early emulsification.
