Endothelial Cell Density in Patients With Intravitreal Silicone oil Injection

Abstract

In 1962 Cibis introduced human eye silicone oil injection. This surgical procedure is employed in retinal detachment complicated by massive retraction, when the normal surgical techniques have failed or would presumably fail (1,2). The literature reports various complications associated with intravitreal silicone oil injection, arising either in the posterior or anterior segments, those in the anterior segment being more delayed. In particular, many authors have described corneal complications variously related to whether the silicone oil does or does not pass into the anterior chamber. This occurs more often in aphakic eyes (1,2,10). In this condition the silicone which has passed into the anterior chamber may appear either in the form of large or small bubbles (1,2,4,6,10) or as a thin emulsion (3,6). Large bubbles have been described occasionally to occur in phakic eyes too (8), even if it is more than likely that the passage of silicone through the fibers of the zonula could lead to small bubbles or vitreous silicone emulsion ap¬pearing in the anterior chamber (2).