Postoperative Outcomes of 1-Month Silicone Oil Tamponade in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Multicenter Study

Abstract

Abstract – Introduction: The aim of study was to investigate postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study involving 263 patients who underwent silicone oil (SiO) tamponade for RRD. Patients were divided into three groups based on the SiO tamponade: 1 month (group 1, n = 55), 3 months (group 2, n = 176), and 6 months (group 3, n = 32). The main outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and retinal structure 1 month after silicone oil removal (SOR). Results: In the analysis of retinal structure in post-SOR, the median central macular thickness (CMT) in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 182.5 μm (IQR: 156.0–214.0), 170.0 μm (IQR: 140.3–211.5), and 152.0 μm (IQR: 92.3–195.3), and the median ganglion cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 80.5 μm (IQR: 70.0–92.3), 73.0 μm (IQR: 65.0–81.3), and 65.0 μm (IQR: 56.3–79.0), respectively. Both CMT and GCL-IPL differed significantly with the group 1 exhibiting the thickest retinal structure (p = 0.03 and p = 0.006). IOP differed significantly across groups, with group 3 showing the highest IOP in post-SOR (p = 0.015). However, there were no significant differences in BCVA, inner retinal layer thickness, outer retinal layer thickness, or submacular fluid among the groups. Conclusions: Prolonged SiO tamponade is correlated with increased IOP and the thinning of the CMT and GCL-IPL over time, with favorable postoperative outcomes for 1-month SiO tamponade. Given the potential risks of extended tamponade, it is advisable to remove SiO as soon as anatomically feasible.