Objective To investigate the time and the mechanism of the toxic and side effects of silicone oil on ocular tissues. Methods 19 human eyeballs were examined histopathologically at different time intervals after silicone oil tamponade. Results Microscopic bubbles presumably containing silicone oil were found in sensory retina,RPE,optic nerve, pre and subretinal membrane,iris,anterior chamber angle,and retrocorneal membrane.In the eyes containing silicone oil for less than 9 months.Silicone bubbles were present only in the surface of retina(within preretinal membrane or macrophages),and after that time,silicone bubbles were noted within sensory retina.In an eye enucleated 39 months after intravitreal silicone tamponade,the parenchyma and subarachnoid space of the optic nerve were found to be diffusely invaded by silicone bubbles. Conclusion The histopathologic changes of ocular tissues are related to the duration of intravitreal silicone oil tamponade. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 232-234)
ObjectiveTo investigate the medium and long-term influence of silicon oil versus heavy silicone oil on rabbit retinas. Methods28 health standard rabbits were randomly divided into A, B and C groups, with 12, 12 and 4 rabbits respectively. All rabbits received routine vitrectomy and tamponade with silicone oil (group A), or heavy silicone oil (group B) or balanced salt solution (group C). After 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks, the retinal b-wave amplitude was measured by ERG, posterior retinal thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Retinal ultrastructure and tissue morphology were observed by transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. ResultsCompare to group C, the b-wave amplitude decreased at 4 weeks after surgery, and decreased at 8 weeks after surgery for group B, and decreased at 8 weeks after surgery, and decreased at 24 weeks after surgery for group A. The decreases were greater in group B than group A at 8, 12, 24 weeks after surgery, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The posterior retinal thickness of group A and B was thinner than group C at 24 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05). The decreases were greater in group B than group A, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy revealed severe pathological changes of retinal ultrastructure and morphology in group A and B rabbit eyes, at 12 weeks and 8 weeks after surgery respectively. The changes were more severe in group B and group A, including edema and necrosis in cone/rod cells, in disk membranes, mitochondria, cytoplasm, nucleus and other organelles. The morphological changes were also more severe in group B and group A, including degenerations of ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer changes. Those changes became more severe when the tamponade time extended. ConclusionThe heavy silicone influence on visual function, ultrastructures, histomorphology of rabbit retinas is much worse than the silicon oil, and the effect is more significant with its time prolong.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in physical properties of silicone oil after intraocular tamponade. MethodsThe silicone oil was removed from 99 patients (99 eyes) of primary retinal detachment with 23G vitreous cutter system. The upper silicone oil was collected after put the vitrectomy samples at room temperature for 3 days. According to the time of intraocular tamponade, the silicone oil samples were divide into six groups including group A (1 month, 12 samples), group B (2 months, 15 samples), group C (3 months, 25 samples), group D (6 months, 22 samples), group E (1-2 years, 13 samples) and group F (above 2 years, 12 sample). Fresh unused silicone oil was set as blank control group. Then the emulsion particles, kinematic viscosity, surface tension, density, transmittance and refractive index were measured. ResultsThe difference between group A-F and the control was statistical significant (P<0.05) in emulsion particles (F=89.337), kinematic viscosity (F=10.660), surface tension (F=11.810), density (F=13.497), transmittance of wavelengths (F=455.496, 566.105, 525.102, 767.573, 622.961, 601.539), but not statistical significant at refractive index (F=2.936, P>0.05). The number of silicone oil emulsion particles has no statistical difference between group A and the control (P>0.05), but was significantly different between group B-F (P<0.05). The kinematic viscosity of silicone oil has no statistical difference between group A, B and the control (P>0.05), but was significantly different between group C-F (P<0.05). The surface tension of silicone oil has no statistical difference between group A-D and the control (P>0.05), but is significantly different between group E and F (P<0.05). The density of silicone oil has no statistical difference between group A-D and the control (P>0.05), but was significantly different between group E and F (P<0.05). The transmittance of silicone oil has statistical difference between group A-F and the control(P<0.05). The refractive index of silicone oil has no statistical difference between all the groups and the controls significantly (P>0.05). ConclusionsThe physical properties of silicone oil will change during the intraocular tamponade. The emulsion particles number will increase and the transmittance will decrease after 2 months, the kinematic viscosity of silicone oil will decrease significantly after 3 months, and the density and surface tension will change significantly after 1 year of tamponade.