Silicone oil-associated optic nerve degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To report the frequency and extent of silicone oil migration into the optic nerve during silicone oil endotamponade.


METHODS
Histopathologic analysis of 74 eyes enucleated after silicone oil endotamponade.


RESULTS
In 14 of 74 enucleated eyes (24%), optically empty vacuoles regarded as silicone oil vacuoles were observed in the retrolaminar optic nerve. In three eyes, silicone oil in the optic nerve was surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory reaction. In serial cross sections, the vacuoles extended up to the line of surgical transsection (up to 9 mm) of the optic nerve and constituted up to 40% of the total cross-sectional area.


CONCLUSIONS
After silicone oil endotamponade, silicone oil may replace a considerable amount of tissue of the retrolaminar optic nerve. A granulomatous inflammatory reaction surrounding silicone oil may add to optic nerve damage.
Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. aasbudde@augen.med.uni-erlangen.de
M
M
Budde
C
C
Cursiefen
L M
LM
Holbach
G O
GO
Naumann
D015353:Eye Enucleation; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000009:adverse effects*
D012827:Silicone Oils