[Ultrasonic diagnosis of retinal detachment after internal tamponade with silicone oil]

The authors evaluate the results of ultrasound examination of 20 patients with retinal detachment (20 eyes) after pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. Ultrasound diagnostic method is necessary in cases with non-transparent optic media. Silicone oil in the space of vitreous cavity has a character of a swimming water-drop and his physical properties can change the echography results. Between the eye-wall and silicone oil is a virtual space, which could be well visualised by ultrasound. The patients are divided into 2 groups. In the 1st group there were 7 eyes with transparent optic media and retina was detached under the silicone oil. By ultrasound the retina detachment echo was localised between the echos of silicone oil and eye wall. In the 2nd group there were 13 eyes with non-transparent optic media. In 6 cases (41.6%) the retinal detachment echo was visualised. The retinal detachment was confirmed by vitreo-retinal surgery.