Temporary use of intraocular silicone oil in the treatment of complicated retinal detachment.

Complicated retinal detachments in 99 eyes were successfully managed by intraocular injections of silicone oil with or without pars plana vitrectomy. The silicone was then subsequently removed after panretinal photocoagulation. Any remaining anterior vitreous cortex near the vitreous base and/or preretinal proliferative tissue causing traction of the retina was also removed by a vitrectome or extracted by a hooked needle after the silicone-fluid exchange had been performed. The preretinal proliferation occurred in some cases even after silicone oil had been removed. Recurrent detachments were discovered in 8 of the 99 eyes and were managed successfully by reinjections of the silicone. Other silicone reinjections were required in two eyes with diabetic retinopathy and two nondiabetic eyes because of frequent rebleeding into the vitreous cavity.