Vitrectomy with silicone oil or long-acting gas in eyes with giant retinal tears: long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE

To determine if either silicone oil or perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas is superior to the other in the treatment of giant retinal tears complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

METHODS

Forty-seven eyes with giant retinal tears were treated in a prospective randomized fashion. Twenty-two eyes were randomized to C3F8 gas and 25 eyes were randomized to silicone oil. Follow-up of 60 months is reported. Of the silicone oil-treated eyes, 9 had oil retained in the eye; oil was removed from the remaining 16 eyes. Successful anatomic attachment of the retina, final visual acuity, and surgical complications were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the groups in any of the main outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that silicone oil and C3F8 gas are equal in most respects for the management of giant retinal tears with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.