Retinal redetachment after removal of intraocular silicone oil tamponade

Aim-To evaluate frequency and risk factors of retinal redetachment after re moval of intraocular silicone oil tamponade. Methods-The study included 225 patients who consecutively underwent intraoc ular silicone oil removal at a mean interval of 10 months after pars plana vitrectomy had been performed by one of two surgeons. Mean follow up time w as 17.37 (SD 14.40) months (range 3.02-67.42 months). Results-In 57 of 225 (25.3%) patients, the retina detached after removal of silicone oil. Risk factors for retinal redetachment were the following: nu mber of previously unsuccessful retinal detachment surgeries (p=0.0008); su rgeon (p=0.007); visual acuity before silicone oil removal (p=0.009); incom plete removal of vitreous base (p=0.01); absence of an encircling band in e yes with proliferate vitreoretinopathy in which an inferior retinotomy had not been performed (p=0.01); and indication for pars plana vitrectomy. Rate of retinal redetachment was statistically (p >0.05) independent of the tec hnique of silicone oil removal and duration of silicone oil endotamponade. Conclusion-Retinal redetachment after removal of silicone oil endotamponade can occur in approximately a fourth of patients, depending on the criteria to use and to remove silicone oil. Risk factors for recurrent detachment i ncluded the following: number of previously unsuccessful retinal detachment surgeries, surgeon, preoperative visual acuity, incomplete removal of the vitreous base, absence of an encircling band, and reason for pars plana vit rectomy. The rate of retinal redetachment is independent of the technique o f silicone oil removal and duration of silicone oil endotamponade, with a m inimal duration of silicone oil tamponade of about 3 months in the present study.