Characteristics, Demographics, Outcomes, and Complications of Diabetic Traction Retinal Detachments Treated with Silicone Oil Tamponade

Purpose To describe the characteristics, demographics, anatomic and functional outcomes, and complications of diabetic eyes with traction retinal detachment (TRD) or combined traction/rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) silicone oil (SO) tamponade. Methods In this retrospective chart review, exclusion criteria included previous PPV. Results Forty eyes were identified. The mean preoperative complexity score (CS) of the TRDs was 5.95 (range 4-8). In patients with ≥6 months of follow-up (33; 82.5%), eyes with lower CSs had a better mean final visual acuity (VA): ~20/400 for CS 4, and hand motions (HM)-1/200 for CS >5. Eyes with macula-sparing TRDs had better final VA (~20/400) than those with a detached macula (~HM). Eyes with >3 panretinal photocoagulation sessions attained better mean final VA (20/400) than eyes without any history of laser treatment (~HM). The most frequent complications were cataract (46%), preretinal fibrosis (33%), recurrent TRD (15%), oil migration to the anterior chamber (12%), corneal edema (12%), and oil emulsification (9%). Eleven (27.5%) eyes underwent SO removal. Conclusions The average complexity score was high in this series. Use of SO tamponade for diabetic TRDs is not without complications, but may be beneficial in stabilizing vision in eyes with otherwise poor prognosis.