Optical coherence tomography study of macular structural changes in silicone oil-filled eyes

Introduction Silicone oil (SO) has been used in complex cases of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), giant retinal tear, and traumatic cases. This study aimed to assess macular structural changes in SO filled eyes after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with PVR. Patients and methods This is a prospective interventional study that was conducted on 60 SO-filled eyes after successful PPV for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with grade C PVR; SO was left in all eyes for a duration of 3 months. Thorough ophthalmic evaluation in Ophthalmology Department, Tanta University, Egypt was performed including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus examination, and anterior segment examination. Optical coherence tomography was done for all patients at presentation to assess the macular area. Results Epiretinal membrane (ERM) was detected in 14 (23.3%) eyes, cystoid macular edema (CME) in 21 (35%) eyes, photoreceptor disruption in 21 (35%) eyes, macular hole in one (1.7%) eye, and foveal thinning in 18 (30%) eyes. The BCVA was positively correlated with the presence of ERM, CME, and photoreceptor disruption and the results were statistically significant with ERM and photoreceptor nonintegrity with P values of 0.049 and 0.001 respectively. In addition, there is no significant correlation between changes in central retinal thickness and BCVA. Conclusion Visual loss after successful PPV in SO filled eyes can occur due to macular changes like CME, ERM, photoreceptor disruption, foveal thinning, and macular hole.