Abstract
Purpose: :
Test of the hypothesis, that so called "stickiness" during the removal of silicone oil, used as an ocular endotamponade is directly related to perfluorocarbon liquid contamination of the silicone oil and the surface tension of the surrounding aqueous media.
Methods: :
High–speed video recording of in vitro simulated processes of silicone oil aspiration, using normal, as well as heavy silicone oil, submersed in aqueous solutions with different surface tensions.
Results: :
The reported difficulties during the removal of silicone oil used as an ocular endotamponade could be simulated in vitro. The so called "stickiness" to the underlying retina is a phenomenon, which is based on the contamination of the silicone oil with perfluorocarbon liquids and the surface tension of the surrounding aqueous media. The impossibility to remove the silicone oil from the retina is not caused by adherence between both layers, but by an adherence of the silicone oil to perfluorocarbon residuals, sitting on the retina, and by a reduced surface tension of the surrounding aqueous media. This leads to breaks in the silicone oil thread during aspiration, giving the impression of increased adherence.
Conclusions: :
The difficulties in silicone oil removal from the vitreous cavity at the end of the tamponade period seem not to carry the risk for retinal detachment caused by an increased interaction between the silicone oil and the retina.
Keywords: retinal adhesion • vitreoretinal surgery • vitreous substitutes