AIM: To investigate the efficacy of modified silicone oil removal combined with scleral buckling in the treatment of patients with retinal detachment under silicone oil tamponade.

METHODS:The retrospective study included a total of 14 patients(14 eyes)who underwent treatment for retinal detachment with silicone oil tamponade at our hospital between January 2021 and February 2023. The modified silicon oil extraction combined with scleral buckling procedure was employed. A self-made 23-gauge suction device was applied in the silicon oil extraction, which involved removing the needle from a disposable blood transfusion set, trimming it to 2.5-3.0 mm near the beveled end, and connecting the other end to a 10 mL syringe without the plunger. The opposite end of the syringe was connected to the negative pressure system of the vitreous cutter to accomplish the silicon oil removal. Scleral compression blocks in scleral buckling surgery using a homemade composite device. No additional silicon oil was injected after the procedure. Follow-up was conducted for 6 mo, assessing retinal reattachment, best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, and complications.

RESULTS: At the 6 mo follow-up, the retina was completely reset in 13 eyes, with a retinal reset rate of 93%, and an improvement in BCVA(LogMAR)compared with the preoperative period(0.95±0.18 vs 1.15±0.21, P=0.002). Transient high IOP occurred in 6 eyes at 1 d postoperatively and returned to normal after medication control. There were no intraoperative complications such as retinal hemorrhage, retinal incarceration, or iatrogenic retinal breaks, and no postoperative complications such as endophthalmitis or choroidal detachment.

CONCLUSIONS:Modified silicone oil removal combined with scleral buckling can effectively treat retinal detachment in the silicone oil tamponade and induce retinal reattachment.