silicon oil in the eye ball

[mss40]

Silicon oil was used to treat retina detachment. How many years the oil can safely be in the eye ball before it could be harmful? If it is harmful what kind of harm it could pose?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This topic has come up many times and there are patient comments including many who have had this surgery, many discussions by the Eye MD ophthalmologists "experts"  You can access them using the search feature and archives.

JCH MD

[elizabeth3363]

Dr. Hagan,

Although I have one of the best retinal specialists in North America, he is at times, incapable of answering all my questions (he rushes off to the next patient and I can't think that fast, therefore I have MORE questions after asking him my first questions)!

He was set to take out ALL of the oil in April.  Now I've developed an oil bubble in the anterior chamber (where he says I only have 10% of the oil, the rest is in the posterior chamber, which he also says can stay there for years - 10 to 25).

I suggested him taking out ALL the oil now since he has to go in anyway, thinking that it would cut down my risks of retinal redetachment (I had a 25% detachment) to once instead of 2 times (2 surgeries).  But he kept mentioning the MORE RISK involved in my FULL oil removal compared to oil bubble removal.  I felt he was really trying to warn me against this, as I don't want any more RISKS of blindness or worse vision - right now I am at 20/200 vision in the right oil filled eye.  It is annoying, but I would rather that than be blind or partially blind, and have more and more and more procedures.

Your thoughts ??

THANKS!
Elizabeth

[elizabeth3363]

Dr. Hagan,

Although I have one of the best retinal specialists in North America, he is at times, incapable of answering all my questions (he rushes off to the next patient and I can't think that fast, therefore I have MORE questions after asking him my first questions)!

He was set to take out ALL of the oil in April.  Now I've developed an oil bubble in the anterior chamber (where he says I only have 10% of the oil, the rest is in the posterior chamber, which he also says can stay there for years - 10 to 25).

I suggested him taking out ALL the oil now since he has to go in anyway, thinking that it would cut down my risks of retinal redetachment (I had a 25% detachment) to once instead of 2 times (2 surgeries).  But he kept mentioning the MORE RISK involved in my FULL oil removal compared to oil bubble removal.  I felt he was really trying to warn me against this, as I don't want any more RISKS of blindness or worse vision - right now I am at 20/200 vision in the right oil filled eye.  It is annoying, but I would rather that than be blind or partially blind, and have more and more and more procedures.

Your thoughts ??

THANKS!
Elizabeth

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Please use the archives and the search feature to pull up previous discussions of silicon oil. The oil can damage the cornea and lens of the eye and a silicone intraocular lens. The retina surgeon must balance the benefits versus the risks. Discuss this with your surgeon.

JCH III MD