Three-Year Efficacy and Safety of a Silicone Oil-Filled Foldable-Capsular-Vitreous-Body in Three Cases of Severe Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE We previously designed a novel foldable capsular vitreous body (FCVB) to treat severe retinal detachment and evaluated its performance in a 1-year follow up study. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a silicone oil (SO)-filled FCVB in a 3-year follow-up. METHODS Standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed, and the FCVB was triple folded and implanted in the vitreous cavity of three eyes. The SO then was injected into the capsule to support the retina. The eyes were examined using Goldmann applanation tonometry, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), noncontact specular microscopy, and ultrasound biomicroscopy over a 3-year implantation period. RESULTS At the 3-year follow-up, retinal reattachment was achieved in all three cases, with steady intraocular pressure. The visual acuity showed slight fluctuations, and it was slightly increased compared to baseline. Optical coherence tomography revealed decreased retinal thickness and an altered retinal structure in the implanted eyes compared to the control eyes. No keratopathy, glaucoma, SO leakage, SO emulsification, or other apparent complications occurred during the observation period. CONCLUSION The SO-filled FCVB was effective and safe as a vitreous substitute in three eyes over a 3-year observation period. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE Silicone oil emulsification is a severe complication after retinal detachment surgery. On the basis of animal experiments, we investigated a new strategy and product, the FCVB, to overcome this complication. In this pilot study, FCVB limited SO emulsification and migration. This study could lay the foundation for a further multicenter clinical trial.