Silicone oil for retinal detachment with advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy following failed vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

We used sophisticated vitreous surgical techniques in conjunction with silicone oil injection in ten eyes of ten patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy following failed vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. After a minimum follow-up of one year, three patients achieved total retinal reattachment and two patients regained ambulatory vision (5/200 or better). Maintenance of low to normal intraocular pressure was observed in nine of the ten eyes despite some cases of progressive anterior segment neovascularization and retinal detachment. Although treatment was more difficult and less successful than in either retinal detachment with proliferative diabetic retinopathy or proliferative vitreoretinopathy alone, these techniques allowed some success in eyes that otherwise would have a poor prognosis.