Evaluation of silicone oil removal from eyes treated with retinotomy

PURPOSE: Long-term silicone oil tamponade may resulting late complications. The aim of our study is to find out the results of silicone oil removal in eyes treated with retinotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 1991 and December 1999 37 patients (37 eyes) were given silicone oil removal after retinotomy. The indications for vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade and retinotomy were: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (78.4%) and trauma (21.6%). Completion retinal attachment within at least 3 months without reproliferations indicated for silicone oil removal. RESULTS: With a minimum of 6 months process follow-up the retina was attached in 36 cases (97.3%). 29 (78.4%) eyes achieving final visual acuity 1/50 or better. Visual acuity remained unchanged in 64.9% cases. Minimal visual acuity 5/50 was achieved in 47.1% of eyes with retinotomy size smaller than 180 ae and in 40% of eyes with retinotomy size 180ae-360ae. Visual acuity at least 1/50 was achieved in 72.2% of eyes where silicone oil tamponade remained shorter than 6 months and in 84.2% when longer than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Silicone oil removal leads to the stabilisation of visual acuity in majority of eyes. Final visual acuity does not correlate with either the retinotomy size or with the duration of silicone oil tamponade. Risk of retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal in eyes treated with retinotomy may result in similar symptom as in eyes treated without retinotomy.