Postoperative Outcomes of 1-Month Silicone Oil Tamponade in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Vitreoretinal Interface

Background:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) necessitates surgical intervention.
• Silicone oil (SiO) is a common intraocular tamponade agent used in RRD surgery.
• The duration of SiO tamponade may influence postoperative outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying silicone oil (SiO) tamponade durations on postoperative outcomes after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery.
• To evaluate the correlation between SiO tamponade duration and key indicators such as visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and retinal structure post-silicone oil removal (SOR).

Main Methods:

• A multicenter retrospective study involving 263 patients undergoing RRD surgery with SiO tamponade.
• Patients were stratified into three groups based on SiO tamponade duration: one month (n=55), three months (n=176), and six months (n=32).
• Outcomes assessed one month after silicone oil removal (SOR) included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and retinal structure (central macular thickness [CMT], ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer [GCL-IPL] thickness).

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in CMT and GCL-IPL thickness post-SOR, with the one-month SiO group exhibiting the thickest retinal layers (P = 0.03 and P=0.006, respectively).
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) differed significantly across groups, with the six-month SiO group showing the highest post-SOR IOP (P = 0.015).
• No significant differences were found in BCVA, inner retinal layer thickness (IRLT), outer retinal layer thickness (ORLT), or submacular fluid (SMF) among the groups.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged silicone oil (SiO) tamponade is associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and thinning of the central macular thickness (CMT) and ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL).
• A one-month SiO tamponade duration appears to yield favorable postoperative retinal structure outcomes.
• Early silicone oil removal (SOR) is advisable to mitigate potential risks linked to extended tamponade durations.