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. 2015 Nov;29(11):1477-82.
doi: 10.1038/eye.2015.135. Epub 2015 Aug 7.

The incidence of unexplained visual loss following removal of silicone oil

R Moya  1   2 , A Chandra  1 , P J Banerjee  1 , D Tsouris  1 , N Ahmad  1   3 , D G Charteris  1
Affiliations

The incidence of unexplained visual loss following removal of silicone oil

R Moya et al. Eye (Lond). 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the incidence and clinical features of unexpected visual loss after removal of silicone oil (ROSO).

Patients and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional observational study of 421 consecutive eyes, which underwent silicone oil removal at one institution over a 2-year period.

Results: Fourteen (3.3%) patients, (12 male, mean age of 53.1 years) suffered unexplained visual loss. In these eyes, the mean duration of silicone oil fill was 141 days (range 76-218). The mean loss of visual acuity was 3.7 (range 2-6) Snellen lines (SL) at 1 month, 3.5 (2-6) SL at 3 months and 2.91 (0-6) SL at 6 months. The change from preoperative visual acuity was statistically significant at all visits (P=0.02). Subgroup analysis of 20 fovea-sparing giant retinal tear (GRT) detachments, observed 10 (50%) cases of visual loss after ROSO. Electrodiagnostic testing suggested predominantly macular dysfunction, with optic nerve involvement in one case. Five of the 14 cases had variable recovery of vision.

Conclusion: There is a 3.3% overall incidence of visual loss following ROSO with a high rate (50%) observed in maculae on GRT detachments. Although recovery of visual acuity is seen in a minority of cases, visual loss after ROSO remains a serious and unexplained concern for vitreoretinal surgeons.

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