Effects and distribution of intravitreally or subretinally injected silicone oil identified in rabbit retina using osmium tetroxide method.

Silicone oil was injected into the eyes of 28 rabbits. Utilizing the specific affinity of osmium tetroxide for lipids, the pathological features and histochemical localization of silicone oil within the retina were studied. This osmium tetroxide technique makes it possible to identify the presence of silicone oil particles in the ocular tissues. It was demonstrated that in eyes with silicone oil injected into the vitreous cavity or subretinal space, silicone oil was detected in the inner retinal layer and in phagocytes in the vitreous cavity but not in the outer retinal layer, retinal pigment epithelium and choroid. In addition, prominent subretinal and epiretinal proliferation with abundant phagocytes containing silicone oil particles were noted in the eyes with subretinal injection of silicone oil through an artificial retinal break. This study suggests that when injected subretinally silicone oil induces excessive subretinal and epiretinal proliferation.