Analysis of the Time and Location of the Silicone Oil Emulsification by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography after Silicone Oil Tamponade

Abstract

Purpose. To estimate localization and the period up to the appearance of small hyperreflective round-shaped droplets using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) after pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. Methods. A retrospective observational study included 24 patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) retinal detachment. SD-OCT analysis was performed 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. We characterized the emulsified silicone oil in the SD-OCT as the small hyperreflective round-shaped droplets. Results. In SD-OCT examination, none of the patients had hyperreflective round-shaped droplets visible one month after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. The hyperreflective droplets were found three months after surgery—in one patient above the optic nerve and in five patients intraretinally (in the cystoid spaces). Six months after vitrectomy, the hyperreflective round-shaped droplets were still present in the aforementioned patients' eyes and additionally in 3 eyes above the optic disc. Conclusions. Hyperreflective round-shaped droplets were found in a SD-OCT examination 3 months after silicone oil tamponade. The authors suggest that they are most likely the emulsified silicone oil droplets. The authors hypothesize that emulsification and migration of silicone oil begin within 3 months after surgery.

<p>Emulsification of Different Viscosity Silicone Oil in Complicated Retinal Detachment Surgery: A Randomized Double-Blinded Clinical Trial</p>

“…Odrobina et al found hyper-reflective round-shaped droplets at 3 months after SO tamponade by spectraldomain optical coherence tomography and hypothesised that emulsification of SO began within 3 months after surgery. 13 In another study, Toklu et al investigated the natural course of emulsification after SO tamponade in retinal detachment surgery and found that emulsification time ranged from 5 months to 24 months. Since most cases had SO emulsification within the first year, they proposed to extend the silicone oil removal time up to 1 year to achieve a stable retina status in cases with a high risk of redetachment.…”

Intraocular pressure changes during and after silicone oil endotamponade (Review)

“…While emulsification time is believed to largely vary between 5 and 24 months postoperatively ( 32 ), some reports emphasize that first signs of SIO emulsification appear in the first 3 months postoperatively ( 33 ) and even earlier, in the first month postoperatively ( 28 ). Since most of the cases have a certain degree of SIO emulsification within the first year postoperatively, there is a large consensus on the necessity to remove the SIO during this interval.…”

Outer Retinal Changes on Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Pre- and Post-Silicone Oil Removal

“…[11][12][13] Additionally, SD-OCT and swept-source OCT analysis of eyes with SiO tamponade has also revealed the presence of hyperreflective areas located intraretinally and subretinally, which several authors have argued may correlate with possible silicone oil emulsification and deposition. [14][15][16] The aim of this study was to further evaluate and characterize structural retinal changes, particularly outer retinal changes, present on SD-OCT in eyes that have undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with SiO tamponade.…”