[Loss of corneal endothelial cells following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil implantation].

Endothelial cell loss contributes to severe corneal decompensation following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection into the vitreous cavity. The corneal endothelium of 35 eyes (35 patients) was evaluated prospectively before and after pars plana vitrectomy in a clinical study by means of wide field specular microscopy (Roberts and Koester). Special attention was paid to differences between patients with and without silicone oil in the anterior chamber with respect to postoperative complications and endothelial cell loss. In 12 of the 35 eyes silicone oil was present in the anterior chamber. After a 6-month follow-up we found in all 35 eyes an average decrease in endothelial cell density of 22.9% +/- 13.3% compared to the preoperative values. A correlation between pre- and postoperative cell density (r = 0.827) after six months could be demonstrated. Logistic regression was used to estimate the statistical significance of various factors influencing endothelial cell loss such as inflammatory anterior chamber reaction, elevated intraocular pressure and silicone oil in the anterior chamber. Silicone oil in the anterior chamber was proved to be the main factor causing endothelial cell loss (p less than 0.025). Age group and number of previous intraocular surgical procedures showed no significant influence on endothelial cell loss.