Silicone oil for advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Repeated vitreous microsurgery followed by silicone oil injection was performed on a consecutive series of 51 patients with retinal detachment and advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy who were not cured by previous conventional management, including vitrectomy, membrane peeling, gas tamponade, and scleral buckling. Anatomic reattachment was achieved in 65% of these cases. Ambulatory or better vision was restored in 74% of the anatomically successful cases. The silicone oil was removed from 30% of the eyes with complete attachment of the retina posterior to the buckle.