Intravitreal silicone oil droplets after intravitreal drug injections.
OBJECTIVE
To present the finding of tiny silicone oil droplets in 15 eyes of 15 patients after intravitreal injections of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent or triamcinolone acetonide and to discuss the likely source of silicone oil.


METHODS
In an observational case series, charts of patients who had undergone intravitreal injections by one surgeon were reviewed retrospectively. The finding of intravitreal silicone oil droplets was noted. The following information was also documented: number and type of injections before the appearance of silicone oil droplets, symptoms and evidence of ocular inflammation, visual acuity before and after silicone oil droplets, length of follow-up, and visual acuity at the last examination.


RESULTS
Fifteen eyes of 15 patients were found to have silicone oil droplets documented after a various number of injections (range, 1-16). Patients were asymptomatic, and there were no adverse side effects associated with the presence of silicone oil droplets at examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Silicone oil droplets may occur in the vitreous cavity after intravitreal drug injections. There were no adverse effects found associated with silicone oil in the vitreous after injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents or triamcinolone acetonide. The likely source of silicone oil is the needles and syringes used for the injections.
Bakri
Sophie J
SJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. sbakri@hotmail.com
Ekdawi
Noha S
NS
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012827:Silicone Oils; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014463:Ultrasonography; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012827:Silicone Oils; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C495058:pegaptanib; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D000069579:Ranibizumab