Elastic stability of silicone ferrofluid internal tamponade (SFIT) in retinal detachment surgery

It has been argued that silicone ferrofluid internal tamponade (SFIT) can p rovide (360 degrees) tamponade of the retina in retinal detachment surgery. Provided that the produced SFIT is biocompatible, exact knowledge is neede d of its elastic stability in the magnetic field produced by the semi-solid magnetic silicon band (MSB) used as a scleral buckle. We propose a quantit ative, phenomenological model to estimate the critical magnetic held produc ed by the MSB that 'closes' retinal tears and results in the reattachment o f the retina. The magnetic 'deformation' of SFIT is modeled in accordance w ith the deformation of a ferrofluid droplet in an external magnetic field. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.