Heavier-than-water silicone oil mixture as a long-term tamponade agent: a pilot study.

PURPOSE To evaluate the tamponade effect on the retina of a heavier-than-water silicone oil mixture and to compare it with the effect of silicone oil. METHODS Prospective, non-randomised, comparative pilot study. Phakic/pseudophakic patients with retinal detachment undergoing vitrectomy with Densiron 68 or silicone oil were recruited. The 'separation volume', defined as the relative volume of the space between intraocular tamponade agent and retina, was estimated using magnetic resonance imaging in both groups and compared. RESULTS Nine participants were included; 4 received silicone oil and 5 Densiron 68. The mean separation volume was statistically significantly larger in the silicone oil group (0.477 ± 0.419 cm(3)) than in the Densiron group (0.042 ± 0.013 cm(3); p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS In this study Densiron achieved an excellent tamponade effect in the retina.