Methylcellulose as a contact lens irrigant when silicone oil is used in vitreoretinal surgery

When silicone oil, a hydrophobic agent, is injected into the vitreous cavity during the course of vitrectomy operations, often some escapes outside the eye, and a mixture of oil and water forms under the infusion contact lens, markedly interfering with visibility. We found that a viscous solution of methylcellulose 1.75% in saline used as the infusion contact lens irrigant, instead of a saline solution alone, can prevent silicone oil from entering under the contact lens, thus avoiding this difficulty.