Effects of Intravitreal Silicone Oil on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal silicone oil (SO) on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT).

Methods: A total of 60 patients with unilateral pseudophakic macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were treated with a three-port pars plana vitrectomy and a 5,700-cSt SO endo-tamponade and subsequent SO removal. SFCT was measured before and 3 months after SO removal. The main outcome measure was the difference between the SFCT of operated eyes and the fellow eyes.

Results: Before SO removal, the mean SFCT differences in group 1 (3-6 months' duration of SO), group 2 (6-9 months' duration of SO), and group 3 (9-18 months' duration of SO) were -14.8, -25.5, and -62.1 µm, respectively (p = 0.002, r = 0.398). Three months after SO removal, the mean SFCT differences in group 1, group 2, and group 3 were -13.4, -23.3, and -59.0 µm, respectively (p = 0.002, r = 0.393).

Conclusions: SFCT decreased significantly in eyes with long-term (≥6 months) intravitreal SO tamponade. Choroidal thinning did not improve after SO removal.