[Changes in ocular refraction after tamponade with silicone oil].

In order to study refractive changes caused by a intravitreal silicone oil injection we retrospectively analyzed 25 eyes after vitreoretinal surgery combined with silicone oil tamponade. In all cases the postoperative visual acuity was 0.1 or better. Mean difference in refraction after silicone oil tamponade in phakic eyes was +5.07 Dsph (+2.0 to +8.0 Dsph). Mean refractive change in the aphakic silicone oil filled eyes was - 6.63 Dsph (-4.0 to -9.0 Dsph). Silicone oil extraction induced a greater refractive change (myopic shift, mean -5.57 Dsph) than silicone oil injection. After silicone oil extraction from the aphakic eyes refractive changes (shift towards hypermetropia, mean +5.86 Dsph) were less manifest than after silicone oil injection. The disparity could be explained by eye elongation after cerclage performed during primary vitreoretinal surgery.