Silicone Oil Emulsification after Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Abstract

is properly cited.Purpose. To investigate the characteristics of silicone oil (SO) emulsification after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and their possible correlations with clinical factors. Methods. e first 2 mL of washing out fluid after SO removal was collected, and used for the measurement of the size and number of SO droplets using a Multisizer ® 3 Coulter counter (Beckman Coulter, USA). e correlations between SO droplets and clinical factors were analyzed. Results. A total of 38 patients (23 males, 15 females) who underwent primary PPV with SO injection for RRD and whose retina stayed attached for ≥3 months after SO removal were included in the study. e average number of oil droplets was 1.96 × 10 6 ± 3.95 × 10 6 /mL (range 0.17 × 10 6 to 21.71 × 10 6 /ml), and 80.8% (range 64.23%-99.07%) of the droplets were 1-2 μm in diameter. e total number of emulsified SO droplets was not correlated with any clinical factor (all P > 0.05). When the emulsified SO droplets were divided into groups by their diameter, multiple linear regression revealed that age was negatively correlated with the numbers of 5-7-μm-diameter and 7-12-μm-diameter droplets (both P < 0.05). Patients using antiglaucoma medications had more 5-7-μm-diameter and 7-12-μmdiameter droplets than those not using (all P < 0.05). Conclusion. Using a Multisizer ® Coulter counter, we successfully determined the number and size of SO droplets after emulsification. We found that the number of 5-12-μm-diameter droplets was higher in younger-age patients and was higher in patients using antiglaucoma eyedrops.

Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long‐term tamponade agents

“…Interestingly, using these devices, the majority of droplets have been found to be below 2 μm in size, which is too small to be observed clinically via gonioscopy or slit‐lamp biomicroscopy. Recent clinical studies also obtained similar findings (Yu et al 2020a; Yu et al 2020b). This information may account for some otherwise clinically unexplained complications related to SO, namely secondary glaucoma without observable emulsification, and provide future research directions.…”

Accuracy of New Generation Intraocular Lens Calculation Formulas in Vitrectomized Eyes

“…It has been reported that the extent of silicone oil emulsification was more severe in younger patients. 37 Therefore, silicone oil is recommended to be removed once the vitreoretinal disorders are stationary, especially in young patients. In our study, the silicone oil was removed in patients in groups 2 and 3, who were younger than those in groups 1 and 4.…”

Characteristics of Silicone Oil Emulsification After Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: An Ultrasound Biomicroscopy Study

“…We found that the grade of SO emulsi cation was correlated with younger age and male gender. Previous studies [4,10] also reported a correlation between SO emulsi cation and age. Aqueous proteins and eye movement, which facilitate SO emulsi cation and are greater in younger eyes, might be contributing factors [11].…”