Silicone Injection in Retinal Detachment

Silicone injection was used to treat 100 cases of retinal detachment: 68 eyes with massive preretinal retraction (MPR); 25 with a giant retinal break and MPR; and 7 with a giant retinal break, without MPR, whose posterior retinal flap could not be unrolled. Anatomically successful reattachment of the retina was obtained in six (9%) of the 68 eyes, two (8%) of the 25, and three (43%) of the 7. Improvement of visual function in these successes was equivocal. Preoperative examination, surgical techniques, and postoperative appearance of silicone are described. Recurrent retinal detachment, proliferation, and opacification of preretinal membranes around the silicone bubble, cataract formation, and corneal opacification were frequent late complications.