Endothelium Cell Loss 12 Months After Vitrectomy With Silicone Oil Tamponade

Abstract

Purpose: : Multiple vitreoretinal operations may result in corneal decompensation in a few cases. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in endothelium cell count (ECC) after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade in different groups. Groups were divided according to lens status. Our hypothesis is that a barrier between the anterior and posterior segment may decrease ECC loss after surgery.

Methods: : In this prospective study, we included 42 eyes that were operated for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with a vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. ECC measurements were performed before the first vitrectomy with oil tamponade, and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperative with specular microscopy. The fellow eye was used as control. The patients (eyes) were divided into 5 subgroups. Group 1: phakic eyes that remained phakic during the whole follow up period. Group 2: pseudophakic eyes that remained pseudophakic during the whole follow-up period , Group 3: phakic eyes that underwent a phaco-emulsifaction procedure with lens implantation at any point during the follow up period. In group 4, eyes were included that became aphakic during the follow-up period, and group 5 included fellow eyes that served as control group.

Results: : In all 42 eyes, at 12 months after surgery ECC was significantly reduced compared to pre-operative: mean: 20% loss (471.9 ± 532.5). ECC loss was 41.5 % (984 ± 556.1) in group 4 (p<0.001), 24.3% (583.5 ± 315.6) (p<0.001) in Group 3 (n=5), 7% (171.4 ± 355.5) in Group 2 (n=15) and 0.1 % (0.6 ± 262) in group 1. No significant reduction of ECC was found in Group 5 (1.3%)(31.6 ±233.1).

Keywords: retinal detachment • cornea: endothelium