Factors of Retinal Re-detachment and Visual Outcome after Intraocular Silicone Oil Removal in Silicone Oil-filled Eyes

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aims to evaluate the risk factors of retinal re-detachment and visual outcome after silicone oil removal (SOR) in silicone oil-filled eyes.

Methods: A total of 57 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and silicone oil injection for retinal detachment (RD), and subsequently underwent a silicone oil removal procedure. Pre-operative examinations were performed to determine the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using the Snellen chart, while Icare was used to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP). In addition, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment and lens, fundus pre-set lens examination for the posterior segment, color fundus photography, anterior segment photography and type B-ultrasonic scans were performed.

Results: In five of 57 patients (8.77%), the retina re-detached following the removal of silicone oil. The factors for re-detachment were proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (two cases), the formation of new retinal breaks (two cases), and incomplete membrane peeling (one case). The rate of retinal re-detachment (reRD) was statistically independent of the duration of silicone oil endotamponade (P = .810). BCVA significantly improved following the removal of silicone oil (P = .001). The duration of the silicone oil tamponade was significant in the development of cataract (27 eyes, 47.3%; P = .0008), emulsified oil in the anterior chamber (13 eyes, 22.8%; P = .009), and glaucoma (seven eyes, 12.2%).

Conclusion: The improvement of visual acuity was discovered following the removal of the intraocular silicone oil. Although the duration of the intraocular silicone oil endotamponade had no effect on the rate of retinal attachment, a longer duration of silicone oil endotamponade can lead to the development of complications, such as cataract, emulsified oil in the anterior chamber and glaucoma, suggesting that the earlier removal of oil should be performed.

KEYWORDS:

• Silicone oil removal
• retinal re-detachment
• risk factors
• visual outcome
• complications

Disclosure statement

None of the authors have any financial disclosure or conflict of interest.