PROPHYLACTIC ARGON-LASER RETINOPEXY PRIOR TO REMOVAL OF SILICONE OIL - A PILOT-STUDY

Background Removal of silicone oil following successful retinal detach ment surgery is usually performed in an attempt to prevent the complic ations of silicone oh; however, removal of the oil may result in retin al redetachment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine w hether argon laser retinopexy, 3-6 weeks prior to the removal of silic one oil, reduces the rate of retinal detachment following silicone oil removal. Methods: A total of 31 eyes of 31 consecutive patients were followed up for a 12 month period after the removal of silicone oil. A ll patients had undergone retinal reattachment surgery resulting in a clinically attached retina with the absence of residual retinal tracti on prior to silicone oil removal. A study group of 15 of the 31 eyes r eceived two rows of 360 degrees of peripheral argon laser retinopexy 3 -6 weeks before removal of the silicone oil, The 16 eyes of the previo us 16 consecutive patients, who underwent removal of silicone oil with out argon laser retinopexy, were used as a control group. Results: In the study group 1 of 15 eyes (6.7%) redetached following the removal o f silicone oil and 4 of 16 (25%) redetached in the control group durin g the 12 month follow-up period from operation. Conclusions: Prophylac tic argon laser retinopexy applied 3-6 weeks before the removal of sil icone oil appears to reduce the retinal redetachment rate. A larger pr ospective randomised trial is needed to confirm these findings.