Background: To investigate the anatomical and functional results of silicone oil (SO) removal after an extended period of SO tamponade in eyes having received vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods: From May 2009 to August 2017, clinical records of patients who had vitrectomy for PDR and underwent SO removal were retrospectively reviewed. SO was in principle left in the eye for an extended period of time and would be removed promptly when complications relevant to SO rose, or at the same setting when other intraocular surgeries were performed. Main outcome measures include anatomical outcome, functional outcome, and postoperative complications.
Results: Seventy-four eyes of 64 patients (31 males and 33 females) were analysed. The mean follow-up duration was 35.6 months (ranging from 6 to 99 months, median 32 months). The duration of SO tamponade ranged from 3 to 116 months (mean 26.89 months, median 16 months). Anatomical success was achieved in 95.9% at the last follow-up with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) becoming better or unchanged in 81.1%. Postoperative complications included ocular hypertension (>25 mmHg; > 4 weeks) in three eyes (4.1%), macular hole in two eyes (2.7%), transient choroidal detachment in one eye (1.4%), vitreous haemorrhage in four eyes (5.4%) and hyphaema in two eyes (2.7%).
Conclusions: The rate of retinal redetachment after an extended period of SO tamponade and removal was low and the majority of eyes obtained final visual acuity improvement. SO removal after an extended period of tamponade in PDR seems to be safe under proper indications and case selection.