Outcomes of silicone oil removal.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and complications of removal of silicone oil after pars plana vitrectomy.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (L.R.B.T), Free Base Eye Hospital, Karachi, from February 2008 to January 2011.

Methodology: Ninety five eyes of 95 patients with a history of undergoing three-port pars plana vitrectomy were included in this study that subsequently underwent removal of silicone oil. Silicone oil was removed after ophthalmoscopically determining retina attachment or when the duration of silicone oil tamponade was atleast of 6 months. Patients were followed for a period of 12 months.

Results: Retinal re-detachment was seen in 19 (20%) out of 95 eyes, vitreous haemorrhage in 2 (2.1%) out of 95 eyes, corneal decompensation in 6 (6.3%) out of 95 eyes, hypotony in 7 (7.3%) out of 95 eyes, phthisis bulbi in 2 (2.1%) out of 95 eyes and lens opacification in 9 (9.4%) out of 95 eyes.

Conclusion: In this study, silicone oil removal resulted in various complications among which retinal re-detachment was the most frequent.