Effect of silicone oil on macular capillary vessel density and thickness

Abstract

The present study assessed changes in macular capillary vessel density and thickness associated with ocular silicone oil tamponade (SOT) following complex vitreoretinal surgery. A total of 23 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy combined with intravitreal SOT were retrospectively enrolled, and a single eye was assessed in each participant. Furthermore, 20 patients who required silicone oil removal (SOR) were included. The macular capillary vessel density and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were analyzed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and retinal thickness was assessed by OCT. The results demonstrated that the macular capillary vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), the FAZ area and full retinal thickness were retained at a stable level following SOT (P>0.05), and also following SOR (P>0.05). Furthermore, the parafoveal (P=0.008), superior-hemi (P=0.007), temporal (P=0.015), superior (P=0.028) and nasal (P=0.002) inner retinal thickness decreased in the SOT group, whereas the inner retinal thickness was unaltered after SOR vs. baseline (P>0.05). In conclusion, silicone oil has no significant effect on macular capillary vessel density within a 6-month period but may compress and reduce the thickness of the inner retina.

Effect of Silicon Oil Tamponade and Its Removal on Central Macular Thickness in Cases of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Using Swept Source OCT

“…Here we would also like to include another retrospective study, which included 23 patients with silicone oil tamponade, and reported a decrease in the retinal thickness. 12 This study also included 20 patients in the silicone oil removal group which consequently showed no change in the inner retinal thickness, a finding which is echoed in our study as well. Another study based on 60 silicone oil filled eyes, reported foveal thinning in 30% of the patients after silicone oil tamponade.Surprisingly, this thinning phenomenon was not restricted to the retina alone, but also affected choroid.…”

Impact of Silicone Oil Removal on Macular Perfusion

“…Consequently, OCTA studies were conducted. So far, OCTA based studies mainly evaluated the impact of SO filling, in which alterations of the microvasculature were present [ 6 , 14 , 15 ]. However, data on the impact of SO removal is limited, and studies on choroidal changes in this context do not exist as far as we know [ 16 , 17 ].…”

“…Endotamponade with SO, as well as its removal from the vitreous cavity are known to impact retinal and choroidal microstructures [ 5 ]. Several studies with different methodological approaches attempted to examine vascular and perfusion alterations due to SO tamponade and its removal [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive vascular imaging technique that allows us to look at this question more in detail.…”

The role of OCT angiography in a study of retinal perfusion after endovitreal intervention due to rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

“…Xiang с соавт. [33] провели исследование, где оценивали состояние центральной зоны сетчатки у 23 пациентов, которым была выполнена PPV в сочетании с силиконовой тампонадой, а также у 20 пациентов, которым требовалось удаление СМ. Средняя продолжительность силиконовой тампонады в группе с удалением СМ составила 5,56 ± 2,17 мес.…”