Follow-up of functionally lost eyes after vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for tractional retinal detachment

Background: Is there any association between, on the one hand, retention or removal of silicone oil or amy specific ocular finding in patients with fu nctionally lost eyes after vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for tracti onal retinal detachment and, on the other, a greater chance of preservation of the eye? This information is important in deciding whether to remove si licone oil, as well as in counseling patients about their individual chance s of preserving their eye. Methods: Seventy-three consecutive patients with a functionally lost eye wi th a minimum follow-up of 3 years were retrospectively studied. The relatio n between the variables at study entry or the removal of silicone oil durin g the follow-up period and a subsequent intervention (enucleation, eviscera tion or conjunctival cover with a scleral shell) were tested for statistica l significance with Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: The absence or removal of silicons oil was not associated with a g reater chance of finally preserving the eye. Nor could we identify other fa ctors which predicted better chances of preservation. Conclusion: The notion that functionally lost eyes after treatment with vit rectomy and silicone oil tamponade for complicated tractional retinal detac hment have better chances of preservation of the eye without silicone oil i s not supported by our study.