Prophylactic argon laser retinopexy prior to removal of silicone oil: a pilot study

Removal of silicone oil following successful retinal detachment surgery is usually performed in an attempt to prevent the complications of silicone oil; however, removal of the oil may result in retinal redetachment.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether argon laser retinopexy, 3-6 weeks prior to the removal of silicone oil, reduces the rate of retinal detachment following silicone oil removal.

A total of 31 eyes of 31 consecutive patients were followed up for a 12 month period after the removal of silicone oil. All patients had undergone retinal reattachment surgery resulting in a clinically attached retina with the absence of residual retinal traction prior to silicone oil removal. A study group of 15 of the 31 eyes received two rows of 360 degrees of peripheral argon laser retinopexy 3-6 weeks before removal of the silicone oil. The 16 eyes of the previous 16 consecutive patients, who underwent removal of silicone oil without argon laser retinopexy, were used as a control group.

In the study group 1 of 15 eyes (6.7%) redetached following the removal of silicone oil and 4 of 16 (25%) redetached in the control group during the 12 month follow-up period from operation.

Prophylactic argon laser retinopexy applied 3-6 weeks before the removal of silicone oil appears to reduce the retinal redetachment rate. A larger prospective randomised trial is needed to confirm these findings.