To evaluate clinical analyses & risk factors for retinal detachment after silicone oil removal in the eyes with completely stable retinal state.

The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical diagnosis, timing of retinal detachment, operative record, and final anatomic success of 10 consecutive eyes with retinal detachment after silicone oil removal.

The retinal detachment group after silicone oil removal consisted of 3 eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy, 3 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 3 eyes with the retinal detachment with macular hole and 1 eye with traumatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Retinal detachment occurred from 1 to 17 weeks after the silicon oil removal surgery. The retinal detachments were associated with reopening of old breaks (5 eyes), new retinal breaks (3 eyes), vitreoretinal tractions (2 eyes). The retina was completely or partially reaatached after additional vitreoretinal surgery in 9 eyes, but total retinal detachment occurred in 1 eye due to reattachment operation rejection.

The retinal break with remained vitreous traction and the proliferative membrane appeared to be an important factor in retinal detachments after silicone oil removal. Therefore, potential retinal breaks and complete removal of vitreous and tractional force during intraocular surgery should be considered.