The biocompatibility of silicone, fluorosilicone and perfluorocarbon liquids as vitreous tamponades - An ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study

Purpose: To investigate the interactions occurring at the interface between some currently used vitreous tamponading substances and the ocular tissues , in an early follow-up after surgery. Methods: Adult albino rabbit eyes un derwent vitrectomy and were injected intravitreally with silicone oils at 1 ,000 or 3,000 cSt, fluorosilicone oil and perfluorodecalin. Different morph ological techniques (light microscopy, scanning and electron microscopy, im munohistochemistry) were applied. Results: All the tested materials, althou gh non-toxic, penetrate the ocular tissues also at the anterior segment lev el, and in the long-term follow-up this can yield functional impairment. No massive inflammation has been detected in the zones in contact with the ma terials, but immunoglobulins and complement fractions are anyway present in the stroma of various tissues and around the droplets of emulsified materi als, suggesting a local immune reaction. Conclusions: Data from this study confirmed that a permanent vitreous substitute, showing a perfect biocompat ibility, still does not exist. The indication to remove the tamponading sub stance within 2 months after the surgery emerges from this investigation, c onfirming previous studies. Despite some negative features, silicone oil st ill appears the most biocompatible material for vitreous replacement. Copyr ight (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.