Confocal microscopy imaging of the cornea in patients with silicone oil in the anterior chamber after vitreoretinal surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of corneal morphology by confocal microscopy after vitreoretinal surgery complicated by passage of silicone oil into the anterior chamber. Design Case series (case control study).

METHODS

Eight patients (eight eyes) who had undergone vitreoretinal surgery and had silicone oil in the anterior chamber but no clinically evident corneal abnormalities made up the patient group. The control group consisted of eight patients (eight eyes) who had undergone vitreoretinal surgery with application of silicone oil tamponade but who had no silicone oil clinically observable in the anterior chamber. In vivo examination of the cornea using a ConfoScan 3 (Nidek Technologies) confocal microscope equipped with the standard 40x immersion lens was performed. Central, upper, and lower parts of the cornea were assessed separately. High-magnification evaluation of the status of corneal layers and endothelial cell density in upper parts of the cornea directly in contact with silicone oil in the anterior chamber and in parts of the cornea not in direct contact with silicone oil was carried out.

RESULTS

Alterations in corneal morphology, especially in endothelium and posterior and medium stroma, were observed. In all cases, changes were more advanced in the upper part of the cornea. Endothelial cell density was significantly decreased in upper parts of the cornea.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with silicone oil in the anterior chamber, confocal microscopy imaging reveals early morphological alterations of the cornea before their clinical manifestation.