Management of recurrent retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes.

PURPOSE To report causes of failure, management options, and outcomes after reoperations for recurrent retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes. METHODS One hundred eighteen silicone oil-filled eyes with recurrent retinal detachment were managed with revision of vitrectomy with membrane surgery with or without silicone oil removal, just scleral buckling, or both. Anatomical success was defined as complete reattachment of the retina, and functional success was defined as recovery of ambulatory visual acuity of >or=5/200 at the last follow-up (mean follow-up, 29.7 months). RESULTS In 82.2% of the cases, proliferative vitreoretinopathy was responsible for recurrent retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes. Reoperations without removal of the silicone oil were performed in 65.3% of the cases. Anatomical success occurred in 62.7% of the eyes, and functional success occurred in 52.5%. Silicone oil was removed in 59.5% of the eyes with retinal reattachment; the retina remained attached in 90.9% of the eyes. Predictors of poor anatomical success were presence of posterior diffuse proliferative vitreoretinopathy and combined posterior and anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy (P <0.02). CONCLUSION Reoperations for recurrent retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes were successful in nearly two thirds of the cases, and over one half of the eyes recovered ambulatory vision.