A survey of intraocular silicone oil use in the United States.

Abstract

This survey was conducted to determine the pattern of usage of intravitreal silicone oil in the United States. A questionnaire was sent to 542 members of the Retina and Vitreous Societies in December 1990, and again 6 weeks later in an attempt to improve the response rate. Two hundred eighty-seven questionnaires (53%) were returned. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents perform vitreous surgery, and 61% of them use silicone oil. This survey determined the degree of participation in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- and institutional review board-approved protocols and the most common indications for use of silicone oil. Ninety-six percent of the respondents indicated that the use of silicone oil represented an acceptable standard of care. Silicone oil is widely used in the United States despite its lack of FDA approval.