Unexplained Visual Loss After Silicone Oil Removal: A 7-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction Unexplained visual loss after removal of silicone oil from the eye has been described. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of unexplained loss of visual acuity after SO removal and to provide possible explanations for this phenomenon. Methods This retrospective study included patients that underwent vitreoretinal surgery, at Centro Hospitalar São João, between January of 2012 and October of 2018. Inclusion criterion was vitreoretinal surgery in which the chosen endotamponade was SO, followed by removal of SO and exchange with balanced salt solution (BSS) or air. After SO removal, patients with documented loss of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on two or more Snellen lines were analyzed and patients in which the cause of the visual loss was identified, namely OHT (intraocular pressure > 21 mmHg), retinal re-detachment, glaucoma, retinal proliferative membrane formation, or corneal decompensation, were excluded. All patients with unexplained visual loss underwent spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to exclude causes of visual reduction such as cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, or ellipsoid/interdigitation zone disruption. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 46 eyes underwent SO tamponade and SO removal during the study period. In 34.8% of the cases ( n = 16) there was visual acuity loss in at least two Snellen lines. Of 46 eyes, 23.9% ( n = 11) showed vision loss due to known secondary causes. Unexplained loss of visual acuity after SO removal occurred in 10.9% of cases. OHT during silicone endotamponade ( p = 0.046) and silicone emulsification ( p = 0.001) were identified as factors associated with unexplained visual loss after SO removal. Conclusion Unexplained loss of visual acuity after SO removal occurred in 10.9% of cases. OHT during silicone endotamponade and SO emulsification were identified as important factors in the ethology of this phenomenon.

Macular vascularisation changes analysed using OCT angiography after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair

“…The frequency of cataracts, keratopathy, ocular hypertension and glaucoma is significantly higher in eyes treated with a silicone oil tamponade [30] . Cases of severe visual loss after silicone oil were observed with a significant reduction in inner retinal thickness in eyes treated with silicone oil tamponade versus gas tamponade in RRD without macular involvement [16,31] . In cases of inferior breaks, a combined PPV with scleral buckle is also a good alternative to silicone oil tamponade and should be explored first [32][33] .…”

Effect of Intravenous Mannitol on Intraocular Pressure Changes in Vitrectomized Silicon-Oil-Filled and Non Vitrectomized Eyes: A Prospective Comparative Study

“…Persistently excessive IOP consequences from SO progressively emulsifying and migrating as emulsified droplets into the anterior chamber. Studies have proven that ingesting water lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) in each human with an optic nerve damage and animals with an intact optic nerve however a broken supraoptic nucleus [14][15]. This demonstrates that the hypothalamus` osmoreceptors, which lessen aqueous production, are below the course of the imperative apprehensive machine to adjust intraocular pressure.…”

Retinal and Corneal Changes Associated with Intraocular Silicone Oil Tamponade

“…Conversely, Marti et al [ 179 ] and Moya et al [ 176 ] did not find any association between SOVRL and duration of SO tamponade. Other risk factors for SOVRL may be SO emulsification and the elevation of IOP during SO tamponade [ 179 , 180 ].…”