The management of giant retinal tears with silicone oil.

PURPOSE: To report the surgical success of vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade in the treatment of retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tears due to various factors.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 21 eyes of 21 patients with retinal tears 90 degrees or greater that underwent vitrectomy, with injection of perfluorocarbon liquids and silicone oil tamponade. Eight eyes (38.1%) had previous ocular surgery (4 aphakia-pseudophakia, 4 pars plana vitrectomy), 4 eyes (19.0%) had a history of trauma (blunt injuries in 2 and penetrating injury in 2), 3 (14.3%) had high myopia. Six eyes (28.6%) had no known condition predisposing to development of giant retinal tear.

RESULTS

Retinal attachment was obtained in 17 (80.5%) of 21 eyes, with a mean follow-up of 12.5 months. Visual acuity improved in 15 eyes (71.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade proved highly effective in giant retinal tears in terms of anatomical and functional results.