Outcome and Significance of Silicone Oil Tamponade in Patients with Chronic Serous Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of silicone oil tamponade in patients with chronic serous retinal detachment (SRD) persisting for three months after the resolution of ocular inflammation. METHODS: A total of 17 eyes of 17 patients diagnosed with chronic SRD persisting for three months after the resolution of ocular inflammation and with high risk of phthisis bulbi by secondary ocular hypotony and macular detachment by subretinal fibrous membrane formation were subjected to surgical intervention. Subjects underwent silicone oil tamponade after surgical drainage of subretinal fluid. Retrospective analyses on anatomical and functional success rates were then performed. RESULTS: Anatomical success with retinal reattachment was observed in ten of the 17 eyes (58.82%), while functional success measured as difference in the best-corrected visual acuity before and after the surgery were logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 1.95 ± 0.66 and logMAR 1.51 ± 0.66, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that, in patients with chronic SRD despite prolonged medical treatment and resolution of inflammation, surgical drainage of subretinal fluid with silicone oil tamponade can achieve anatomical and functional success.