Silicone oil (SO) may be used as a tamponade for complicated vitreoretinal diseases(11 Chen Y, Kearns VR, Zhou L, Sandinha T, Lam WC, Steel DH, et al. Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long-term tamponade agents. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(3):240-50.). Due to its ability to displace aqueous humor from the retinal surface, SO maintains the adhesion between the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium(22 Barca F, Caporossi T, Rizzo S. Silicone oil: different physical proprieties and clinical applications. Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:502143.). Other properties of SO include intraocular inertness, transparency, and permanence until removal(11 Chen Y, Kearns VR, Zhou L, Sandinha T, Lam WC, Steel DH, et al. Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long-term tamponade agents. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(3):240-50.). Currently, recommendations are to remove the SO as long-term placement in the vitreous cavity can result in complications. Emulsification of SO is a common cause of complications. Emulsified droplets have been found in both the anterior and posterior segments, optic chiasm, and brain, resulting in keratopathy, late-onset glaucoma, and optic neuropathy. Although the potential mechanisms vary, SO in the anterior chamber can result in contact between emulsified droplets with corneal endothelial cells, leading to inflammation in the trabecular meshwork and direct SO infiltration of angle structures(11 Chen Y, Kearns VR, Zhou L, Sandinha T, Lam WC, Steel DH, et al. Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long-term tamponade agents. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(3):240-50.). Additionally, SO in the anterior chamber can lead to optical artifAacts such as bright reflex, reversed pattern of illumination, and interference fringes, due to contact with the endothelium(33 Gao RL, Neubauer L, Tang S, Kampik A. Silicone oil in the anterior chamber. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1989;227(2):106-9.). However, the mechanism of SO emulsification remains unclear and is seemingly inevitable in some cases(11 Chen Y, Kearns VR, Zhou L, Sandinha T, Lam WC, Steel DH, et al. Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long-term tamponade agents. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(3):240-50.).
-
Funding: This study received no specific financial support.
REFERENCES
-
1Chen Y, Kearns VR, Zhou L, Sandinha T, Lam WC, Steel DH, et al. Silicone oil in vitreoretinal surgery: indications, complications, new developments and alternative long-term tamponade agents. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021;99(3):240-50.
-
2Barca F, Caporossi T, Rizzo S. Silicone oil: different physical proprieties and clinical applications. Biomed Res Int. 2014:2014:502143.
-
3Gao RL, Neubauer L, Tang S, Kampik A. Silicone oil in the anterior chamber. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1989;227(2):106-9.
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
27 May 2024 -
Date of issue
2024
History
-
Received
04 Mar 2024 -
Accepted
22 Mar 2024
