Densiron 68 heavy silicone oil in the management of inferior retinal detachment recurrence: analysis on functional and anatomical outcomes and complications

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of a heavy silicone oil (Densiron 68) in the management of inferior retinal detachment recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective non-comparative consecutive case series study. Forty-nine cases of complex inferior retinal detachment were treated using Densiron 68 heavy silicone oil (HSO) as the endotamponade. Our main purpose was anatomic reattachment following Densiron 68 removal. Functional outcomes, rate of recurrences, the presence of inflammatory complications and intraocular pressure alterations were evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients affected by complex retinal re-detachment were recruited. The mean follow-up was 7.6 (+/- 1.5) mo. The mean best corrected visual acuity after Densiron 68 removal was 0.95 logMAR, standard error (SE: 0.068). Retinal reattachment was 61.2% after first surgery and 81.6% after second surgery. Nineteen cases (38.8%) had recurrences when intraocular heavy silicon oil was in situ, 26.3% (5 cases) of which involved the inferior retina. CONCLUSION: Densiron 68 efficiently fills the inferior retinal periphery and might lower the risk of inferior proliferative vitreoretinopathy development, in particular after a standard silicon oil tamponade that reduces the proliferative process in the upper quadrants of the retina.