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Case studies: Vision loss after silicone oil related to central macular abnormalities
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Vision loss after the removal of intraocular silicone oil in vitrectomy for retinal detachment or giant retinal tear was related to abnormalities in the central part of the macula, a review of several cases found.
Sunildath Cazabon, MD, and colleagues at St. Paul’s Eye Unit in Liverpool, England, analyzed the clinical records of three cases in which visual loss was experienced following the removal of silicone oil after vitrectomy for retinal detachment or giant retinal tear.
Two of the cases experienced a reduction of visual acuity from 6/9 to 6/36, and the third dropped from 6/24 to 3/24. None of the cases had macular detachment at any stage.
Pattern electroretinograms showed reduced amplitudes of the P50 and N95 components, and multifocal electroretinograms indicated selective damage to the central part of the retina.
“The results suggest that the abnormality arises predominantly in the central part of the macula, especially the outer and middle layers,” the researchers said. “The exact mechanism still remains obscure.”
The study was published in the July issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.