Silicone Oil Removal Related Vision Loss: Questioning Different Outcomes

Silicone oil removal-related vision loss (SORVL) is a rare, sight-threatening condition occurring in patients who previously underwent silicone oil removal (ROSO) surgery. Today, few cases have been reported in the literature, predominantly described as unrecoverable, and the disease spectrum and its pathophysiology are mostly unknown.

We retrospectively report 6 different cases of SORVL, analyzing the different clinical outcomes. Patients clinical characteristics at presentation and throughout follow-ups are reported, including cases of significant improvement and a rare case of complete recovery.

Among enrolled patients, 83% were males who underwent ROSO for a previous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery with pars plana vitrectomy. Two (33.3%) cases presented significant improvement over time, with one of them (16.6%) experiencing complete recovery. Clinical presentation, diagnosis and course of the disease outline both similarities and differences that may help in the hypothesis-generating process on possible underlying mechanisms.

Although sharing connections in the onset of symptoms and clinical spectrum, this case series evidences differences in outcome in SORVL cases and highlights the heterogeneity of SORVL. Future studies should be aimed at investigating the pathophysiology of SORVL and factors influencing the course of this condition.