Silicone oil removal combined with macular pucker dissection: a retrospective review of 14 cases

Abstract

Purpose: Silicone oil must be removed from the eye to avoid late complications after the surgical management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Macular pucker, frequently observed after retinal detachment surgery, is responsible for visual impairment. The safety of a procedure combining epimacular membrane peeling and silicone oil removal was retrospectively evaluated.

Methods: Fourteen eyes that had previously undergone vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with severe PVR, penetrating or blunt trauma, and intraocular foreign bodies were included. Silicone oil tamponade was maintained for a mean period of 30 weeks (range, 12-108 weeks). The removal of silicone oil was combined with the peeling of an epimacular membrane.

Results: Mean follow-up after silicone oil removal was 86 weeks (range, 13-234 weeks). The final retinal reattachment rate was 78%. Macular pucker recurred in one eye after a 24-month period. Best-corrected visual acuity improved two lines or more in eight eyes (57%) and reached 20/200 or better in eight eyes (57%) at last follow-up.

Conclusion: Macular pucker dissection and silicone oil removal can be safely combined. This single procedure can obviate the need for further surgery in eyes that have already undergone multiple operations and allows good visual recovery.