Histopathological findings in eyes after silicone oil injection.

Eight eyes were examined histologically after silicone oil injection. Intraretinal deposits suggestive of silicone were not present in attached retinas, but were frequently observed in detached retinas when subretinal silicone occurred. This may possibly be due to defects in the horizontal conducting structures of the retina such as those occurring in persistent detachment with disorganization of the retina. Morphologically, the retina was essentially normal 3.5 years after the silicone injection. This observation contradicts the idea that silicone oil has a toxic effect.