Management of giant retinal tears using vitrectomy and silicone oil/fluid exchange. A preliminary report.

The long-term management of giant retinal breaks presents a difficult problem. A surgical method is described in which removal of the vitreous and complete filling of the preretinal space with silicone oil is used to close the giant tear and re-attach the retina. The silicone oil is removed from the eye after 2 to 3 months in most cases. The results are reported of using this technique in a consecutive series of seventeen eyes with giant retinal breaks.