Silicone oil particles trapped in the subretinal space: complications after substitution of the vitreous.

Silicone oil particles trapped in the subretinal space, following total replacement of the vitreous by oil, were found in the aphakic eye of a 51-year-old man. The eye had been operated on two times for retinal detachment in other institutes which resulted in a grade D-1 proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The silicone particles resembled beads and were slightly mobile among subretinal strands by changing the eye position. The particles freely moved into the vitreous cavity through a retinotomy site and were removed with the silicone from the vitreous cavity because of ocular pain. Subconjunctival granulation was removed and histological examination showed silicone oil particles in the vitreous cavity, and cellular infiltration.