Surgical results of heavy silicone oil HWS-45 3000 as internal tamponade for inferior retinal detachment with PVR: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To report the results of a prospective pilot study using a new heavy agent, HWS-45 3000, as endotamponade in complicated inferior retinal detachment.

Methods: Ten consecutive patients satisfying the enrolment criteria were studied. Inclusion criteria was the presence of inferior retinal detachment complicated by PVR grade C2 or more (according to Retina Society classification) or retinal detachment due to penetrating ocular trauma or giant retinal tears. Heavy silicone oil was injected at the end of surgery after peeling of retinal membranes and/or retinotomy. Follow-up protocol visits were scheduled at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after the initial surgery and 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after HWS-45 3000 removal surgery. Oil removal was planned after about 2 months from the main surgery.

Results: At the 1-month protocol visit, eight eyes presented retinal reattachment and two eyes presented a retinal detachment not involving the posterior pole. Visual acuity ranged from 2.2 logMAR to 1.0 (mean: 1.45, SD: 0.53). Oil removal surgery was scheduled about 60 days postoperatively. All eyes required additional endolaser treatment during removal surgery, and four eyes epiretinal membrane peeling. In two eyes that presented retinal detachment not involving the posterior pole, tamponading with 5700 cSt silicone oil was necessary. At 3- and 6-month protocol visits, all patients presented retina reattached; two eyes had silicone oil as internal tamponade.

Conclusion: From our first results, HWS-45 3000 appears to be a well-tolerated heavy oil suitable for the treatment of complicated inferior retinal detachment.