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The Wisconsin silicone oil study (report #1): anatomical and functional outcomes of repair of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Eye (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Silicone oil (SO) is a long-term tamponade for repair of complex retinal pathology but has limitations including late redetachment. This study describes our experience with SO tamponade for repair of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), with attention to anatomic and functional outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective consecutive case series of eyes with retinal detachment (RD) complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) receiving SO tamponade at the University of Wisconsin between 2013 and 2019. Group 1 defined as primary SO placement; Group 2 had SO placed after failing prior retinal detachment repair.

Results

Inclusion criteria of SO placement for repair of RD with PVR was met for 117 eyes. The final reattachment rate was 84% for all eyes, with no difference between Groups 1 and 2. Vision improvement was 2.1 lines for Group 1 (p = 0.06 from baseline) and 4.6 lines for Group 2 (p < 0.0001). The mean number of silicone oil placements was 1.4. Less improvement in vision was noted with repeat SO placement, though overall functional vision of 5/200 or better was achieved in 63.2% of patients.

Conclusions

SO tamponade allows long-term anatomical stabilisation and substantial vision recovery in eyes with retinal detachment complicated by PVR. Rates of anatomic and functional success have improved significantly when compared to prior studies using oil tamponade for repair of PVR.

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Fig. 1: Overall vision outcomes comparing preoperative (baseline) visual acuity to final acuity.
Fig. 2: Rate of Silicone oil retention compared with the number of surgeries and compared between Groups.

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Data availability

Raw data for the dataset in Tables 1,2,3 are not publicly available to preserve individuals’ privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The data that support the findings of this study may be shared with an IRB approved Data Use Agreement with the University of Wisconsin with request made to the corresponding author. Data are located in controlled access data storage at the University of Wisconsin.

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Funding

Funding

Supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, the McPherson Eye Research Institute Monroe E. Trout Chair (Dr. Altaweel), and a National Eye Institute Vision Research Core Grant (P30 EY016665) to the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Madison, WI, USA

    Kathleen R. Schildroth, Maxwell J. Wingelaar, Paul S. Boeke, Jonathan S. Chang, Justin L. Gottlieb, T. Michael Nork, Kyle Peterson & Michael M. Altaweel

  2. Eye Clinic of Wisconsin, Wausau, WI, USA

    Maxwell J. Wingelaar

  3. Wolfe Eye Clinic, Hiawatha, IA, USA

    Paul S. Boeke

  4. Doheny Eye Institute, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Michael S. Ip

  5. McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Michael M. Altaweel

Authors
  1. Kathleen R. Schildroth
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  2. Maxwell J. Wingelaar
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  3. Paul S. Boeke
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  4. Michael S. Ip
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  5. Jonathan S. Chang
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  6. Justin L. Gottlieb
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  7. T. Michael Nork
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  8. Kyle Peterson
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  9. Michael M. Altaweel
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Contributions

KRS: design of protocol, data extraction and interpretation, manuscript writing, literature search. MJW and PSB: design of protocol, data extraction. MIP, JSC, JLG, and TMN: data interpretation, manuscript revision. MMA: design of protocol, data interpretation, manuscript revision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael M. Altaweel.

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Schildroth, K.R., Wingelaar, M.J., Boeke, P.S. et al. The Wisconsin silicone oil study (report #1): anatomical and functional outcomes of repair of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Eye (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03109-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03109-x

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