To evaluate the factors influencing clinical outcome after removal of intraocular silicone oil and the relationship of the factors to the postoperative visual prognosis.

The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes related to 76 patients (79 eyes) who underwent silicone oil tamponade. Prognostic factors were as follows: age, underlying pathologies, systemic diseases, range and type of retinal detachment (RD), type of RD, number of retinal tears, macular and lens status, and types of operation. The influence of these factors on visual acuity and anatomical success rates were studied.

The 79 eyes that underwent silicone oil removal had preoperative diagnoses as follows: proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 32 eyes, primary rhegmatogenous RD in 12 eyes, RD with an intraocular foreign body in nine eyes, traumatic RD in eight eyes, RD with a macular hole in six eyes, RD development after other surgeries in six eyes, RD with endophthalmitis in three eyes, and RD with high myopia in three eyes. Anatomical success was achieved in 59 eyes (74.7%) after silicone oil removal. Thirty-two eyes (40.5%) had an increase in visual acuity, 28 eyes (35.4%) showed no changes and 19 eyes (24.1%) showed deteriorated conditions after silicone oil removal. The number of surgeries was an important factor related to anatomical and functional success rate. Postoperative visual improvement was observed when the number of surgeries was greater than two and in groups with no macular holes or degenerations.

When considering prognostic factors for silicone oil removal, reducing complications and retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal may be helpful.