The Effects of Silicone Oil Endotamponade on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness after Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the potential effects of 1000-cSt silicone oil (SO), which is used for pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery on subfoveal choroidal thickness.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, 20 eyes of 20 patients who had undergone PPV and SO injection surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were included. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed before the surgery, one month, three months after PPV and two months after silicone oil removal. After one month following PPV and SO injection and two months following silicone oil removal, subfoveal choroidal thickness was evaluated using EDI (enhanced depth imaging) mode of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
RESULTS: Subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements decreased statistically significantly at two months after silicone oil removal compared to the first month of PPV and SO injection. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 284.2±54.2 µm at one month after PPV and SO injection, while it was 258.8±52.8 µm at two months after SO removal (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: After the removal of SO subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements decreased, the changes of subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements may be a parameter for the timing of SO removal.