[Treatment of retinal detachment by vitrectomy and injection of silicone oil. Long-term results and complications in 105 cases]

Abstract

The present study is a two year-follow up of 105 eyes (including 27 aphakic eyes), operated on retinal detachment by silicone oil injection after pars plana vitrectomy. This procedure was chosen either as an initial treatment (37 eyes) or after a classical treatment by external indentation had failed (68 eyes). All cases of retinal detachment were of bad prognosis: macular hole, massive periretinal proliferation, isolated or associated with a tear. Cases of vitrectomy with silicone injection for proliferative retinopathy due to diabetes or hemoglobinopathy were excluded. Operations were performed under a surgical microscope with the help of a corneal contact lens (Goldmann, Kl oti or O' Malley ). Functional and anatomical results, as well as complications, were evaluated at least 2 years after treatment. In 24,7% of cases, vision was improved as compared to preoperative visual acuity. Cataract was a constant complication in all phakic eyes, as silicone oil had not been removed within the first 6 months. Intraocular hypertension developed frequently both in phakic and in aphakic eyes (29,5 and 33% of cases, respectively) and responded poorly to medical or surgical treatment. Other complications occurred less frequently. They were corneal edema, conjunctival hyperemia and uveitis. Pain imposed the evisceration of 2 eyes. These complications were the consequence of silicone oil toxicity and/or the mechanical effects of intraocular oil. Besides treatment-associated complications, early (36 during the first 6 months) as well as late (2 between the 12th and 18th months) recurrences of retinal detachment were observed. In contrast to these fair functional results, anatomical results were good in most cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)