title: [Vision Loss in Association with Silicone Oil].
abstract: Silicone oil tamponades have been a key feature of vitreoretinal surgery for more than 40 years. The use of these durable vitreous substitutes has not only been limited to tractive retinal detachments, inflammatory chorioretinopathies or other complicated vitreoretinal diseases, but also to macular holes and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. During the last 12 years, an increasing number of cases of vision loss during or after the removal of silicone oil have been reported in the literature. In up to one third of patients with uncomplicated macula-attached retinal detachment with good preoperative vision, continuing vision loss is seen. In most of these cases, thinning of the inner retinal layers can be found. The underlying pathological mechanism is unknown. A direct connection to silicone oil is likely, but has not been proven. However, the increasing number of reports raises evidence that silicone oil itself might be the reason for this phenomenon, which is not observed in gas tamponades. Vision loss during or after the removal of silicone oil is an underestimated problem. The safety and toxicity of silicone oil should be reexamined systematically. The search for novel vitreous replacements is indispensable. The use of silicone oil should be strictly evaluated and balanced against other possible tamponades in every individual case.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tode
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roider
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012163:Retinal Detachment; D012167:Retinal Perforations; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000009:adverse effects; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D012827:Silicone Oils