Extended silicone oil tamponade in primary vitrectomy for complex retinal detachment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a long-term follow-up study

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate long-term anatomic and functional results of extended silicone oil (SO) tamponade in primary vitrectomy for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and complex retinal detachment (RD).

Methods: From January 1999 to June 2005, clinical records of consecutive patients with PDR who underwent primary vitrectomy with extended SO tamponade for complex RD were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures included anatomic outcome, functional outcome, and postoperative complications. Statistical analyses were used to determine factors affecting anatomic and functional outcomes and to evaluate the potential adverse effects on vision from long-term oil tamponade.

Results: Fifty-four eyes of 45 patients (18 male and 27 female) were included in this series. All patients underwent follow-up >or= 12 months (28.2+/-15.1 months; range: 12 to 69 months). Anatomic success was achieved in 85.2% at the third month postoperatively and 83.3% at last followup. Breaks with adjacent unreleased traction was identified as the only variable associated with final anatomic success (OR=0.173, p=0.024). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved or remained unchanged in 89% at the third month postoperatively and in 78% at last follow-up. Ambulatory vision was achieved in 41% at the third month postoperative and 44% at last follow-up. Preoperative BCVA was identified as the only variable statistically associated with final BCVA (p<0.001) (multivariate analysis). The change of BCVA from the third month to last follow-up has no correlation with follow-up duration in the 45 eyes with final anatomic success (Pearson correlation coefficient = -0.022, p=0.888). Postoperative complications included peri-silicone oil proliferation in 4 eyes, neovascular glaucoma in 4 eyes, oil migration into anterior chamber in 9 eyes, and pupillary-block induced IOP elevation in 5 eyes.

Conclusions: Prolonged SO tamponade may provide anatomic success and functional stability after primary diabetic vitrectomy. Significant complications compromising visual prognosis were uncommon with prolonged SO tamponade.