One-Month versus 3-Month Heavy Silicone Oil Tamponade in Complex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Redetachment

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Vitreoretinal Interface

Background:

• Complex inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment recurrence (Re-RRD) poses significant surgical challenges.
• Heavy silicone oil (HSO) is utilized for tamponade in challenging retinal detachment cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional and anatomical outcomes of 1-month versus 3-month HSO tamponade for complex inferior Re-RRD.
• Evaluate the impact of HSO duration on re-attachment rates, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparative cohort study of 46 eyes with complex inferior Re-RRD previously treated with gas or silicone oil.
• Eyes were treated with HSO (DENSIRON®68) removed after 1 month (Group A) or 3 months (Group B).
• Outcomes assessed included re-attachment rate, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and intraocular pressure (IOP) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-removal.

Main Results:

• Similar re-attachment rates between Group A (91.6%) and Group B (81.8%).
• Group A demonstrated significantly better BCVA at 6 and 12 months post-removal.
• Group B showed a significant increase in IOP post-HSO removal, consistently higher than Group A.

Conclusions:

• A 1-month HSO tamponade achieves comparable re-attachment rates to a 3-month duration for complex inferior Re-RRD.
• Shorter HSO tamponade (1 month) leads to superior visual recovery and better intraocular pressure management.