Long-term results of pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil in large retinal tears in children

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with implantation of silicone oil (ISO) was performed giant tears (GT) in 24 eyes of 22 children aged 6-15 years. In 15 eyes of 13 children idiopathic GT were involved (71%), in 9 eyes (29%) the GT was preceded by an injury-contusion in 5 eyes and a perforating injury in 4 eyes. The patients were followed up for 24-132 months after operation, on average for 55 months. The final anatomical success with an attached macula and functional success with a visual acuity of 0.02 or better were achieved in 18 eyes (75%). The results did not depend on the size of the GT and were better in post-traumatic than in idiopathic GT. The success of the operation declined from 82% after two years and 79% after 3 years to 45% after 5 and more years. The silicone oil was removed in 13 years (46%). Of those in 4 eyes (31%) the detachment relapsed and in two eyes (15%) the relapse was the cause of the final failure. PPV with ISO was a very effective operation in GT. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was the main cause of surgical failures and a frequent obstacle for removal of silicone oil from the eye. Dispensarization, prophylactic cryopexy and early diagnosis of GT are the main prerequisites of a better prognosis and results in GT in children.