Intraocular Silicone oil: an Experimental Study

Abstract

The intraocular injection of silicone oil has not only been one of the most controversial subjects in ophthalmology, but also one where passion actually won over scientific objectivity. It is striking to notice the lack of scientific rigor which characterizes publications made in the past and it seems today that polemics were a greater goal than scientific proofs. As example, in one experimental study (1) retinal toxicity to silicone oil is demonstrated as existing already a few hours after the intraocular injection. However, the described lesions look much more like traumatic lesions than retinal infiltration by silicone, and when reading carefully the experimental protocol, one realizes that vitreous was aspirated with a regular syringe. No comment has to be made on the consequences on the retina of such an aspiration. In other studies it is extrapolated from the observation of vacuoles in the retina that silicone oil had invaded the retinal layers, which was hastily considered as proof of silicone retinopathy.