Abstract
We describe in six patients the delayed occurrence of inferior tractional retinal detachments following epiretinal reproliferation 4 to 5 months after vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade for diabetic related retinal detachments. The epiretinal traction was spontaneously relieved by the occurrence of large inferior tension breaks which subsequently enlarged and coalesced to form retinotomies.
This process appears to be relatively benign as it remains limited to the peripheral retina, and in all six patients the posterior retina has remained attached for a minimum of 12 months follow up, with improved central visual acuity.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Blankenship G : Pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy: A report of eight years experience. Mod Proh Ophthalmol 1979, 20: 376–86.
Charles S : Vitreous microsurgery, 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1987.
McLeod D, James CR : Viscodelamination at the vitreoretinal juncture in severe diabetic eye disease. Br J Ophthalmol 1988; 72: 413–9.
Williams DF, Williams GA, Hartz A, Meiler, WF, Abrams GA, Aaberg TM : Results of vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment using the en bloc excision technique. Ophthalmology 1989, 96: 752–8.
McLeod D : Use of silicone oil in diabetic vitrectomy. Internat Ophthalmol 1985, 8: 104–5.
McLeod D : Silicone-oil injection during closed microsurgery for diabetic retinal detachment. Von Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1986, 224: 55–9.
Leaver PK, Grey RHB, Gamer A : Silicone oil injection in the management of massive preretinal retraction. II. Late complications in 93 cases. Br J Ophthalmol 1979, 63: 361–7.
Haut J, Ullem, Chermet M, Van Effenterre G : Complications of intraocular injections of silicone combined with vitrectomy. Ophthalmologica 1980, 180: 29–35.
Leaver PK, Grey RHB, Garner A : Complications following silicone oil injection. In Streiff ED, ed. Modern problems in ophthalmology. Basel: Karger, 1979, 20: 290–4.
Boulton M, McLeod D, Gamer A : Vasoproliferative retinopathies: clinical, morphogenetic and modulatory aspects. Eye 1988, 2: s124–39.
Lewis H, Abrams GW, Williams GA : Anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation after diabetic vitrectomy. Am J Ophthalmol 1987, 104: 607–13.
Yeo JH, Glaser BM, Michels RG : Silicone oil in the treatment of complicated retinal detachments. Ophthalmology 1987, 94: 1109–13.
Chang S, Lincoff HA, Coleman D, et al.: Perfluorocarbon gases in vitreous surgery. Ophthalmology 1985, 92: 651–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilson-Holt, N., Gregor, Z. Spontaneous relieving retinotomies in diabetic silicone filled eyes. Eye 6, 461–464 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1992.97
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1992.97