Intraocular tissue migration of silicone oil after silicone oil tamponade: a histopathological study of enucleated silicone oil-filled eyes

Retrospective clinical and histopathological review of eight silicone oil-filled enucleated eyeballs using light microscopy was carried out in our department of ocular pathology during a period of six years. In all cases, silicone oil vacuoles, both free and incorporated within macrophages were seen in all the retinal layers. Silicone oil vacuoles were seen in the optic nerve, choroid, retinal pigment epithelium, corneal stroma, iris and ciliary body stroma, preretinal and subretinal membranes and retro-corneal membranes. Silicone oil migration could be seen in intraocular tissues as early as two months post surgery. There was no definite histopathological correlation between duration of tamponade and distribution of silicone oil vacuoles. Silicone oil vacuoles were seen in the optic nerve in eyes with neovascular glaucoma. Chronic inflammatory reaction was observed in the retinal tissue in the vicinity of silicone oil vacuoles.