Silicone oil-associated optic nerve degeneration.

Budde, M; Cursiefen, C; Holbach, L M; Naumann, G O · Am J Ophthalmol · 2001

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

To report the frequency and extent of silicone oil migration into the optic nerve during silicone oil endotamponade. Histopathologic analysis of 74 eyes enucleated after silicone oil endotamponade. In 14 of 74 enucleated eyes (24%), optically empty vacuoles regarded as silicone oil vacuoles were observed in the retrolaminar optic nerve. In three eyes, silicone oil in the optic nerve was surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory reaction. In serial cross sections, the vacuoles extended up to the line of surgical transsection (up to 9 mm) of the optic nerve and constituted up to 40% of the total cross-sectional area. After silicone oil endotamponade, silicone oil may replace a considerable amount of tissue of the retrolaminar optic nerve. A granulomatous inflammatory reaction surrounding silicone oil may add to optic nerve damage.

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