Outcomes of Light Silicone Oil Tamponade for Failed Idiopathic Macular Hole Surgery

PURPOSE: To study the outcomes of redo macular hole surgery using light silicone oil tamponade. METHODS: In this study, medical charts of consecutive patients who underwent redo pars plana vitrectomy, extended dye-assisted internal limiting membrane peel, and light silicone oil tamponade for failed previous macular hole surgery (from January 2010 to June 2014) were retrospectively reviewed. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity and anatomical closure rates were regarded as outcome measures. RESULTS: Overall, data from 13 patients was recorded and analyzed. The mean (±SD) age of patients was 66 ± 7 years, and four (30.7%) were male. Mean interval between the primary and redo surgeries was 3.7 ± 2.0 months (range, 1 to 8 months). During redo surgeries, 11 (84.6%) subjects underwent additional internal limiting membrane peeling. Mean interval between the redo surgery and silicone oil removal was 5.9 ± 2.1 months (range, 3 to 10 months). After silicone oil removal, patients were followed for 21.8 ± 14.2 months (range, 3 to 51 months). Mean best spectacle corrected visual acuity improved from 20/452 before redo surgery to 20/121 in the last follow-up examination (P < 0.001). Anatomical success was achieved in 11 (84.6%) patients: nine (69.2%) macular holes were closed and two (15.4%) were flat-open. CONCLUSIONS: Redo pars plana vitrectomy with light silicone oil tamponade is an effective method for restoration of macular anatomy and function in patients with persistent macular holes.