Risk factors and prognostic analysis of vitreous cavity opacification after silicone oil removal

This study aims to investigate the risk factors for postoperative vitreous cavity opacification following pars plana silicone oil removal and its impact on prognostic visual acuity.

A retrospective case–control study was conducted. A total of 66 eyes from 66 patients were enrolled in the study. On the first postoperative day, all patients underwent a scanning laser ophthalmoscopy to assess the turbidity of the vitreous cavity. 42.42% (28/66) were categorized as Grade 0, 36% (24/66) as Grade I, and 21% (14/66) as Grade II, based on the visibility of posterior pole blood vessels. Ordered multiple classification logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the impact of surgical and baseline factors on the occurrence and severity of vitreous cavity opacification.

The presence of high myopia and the intraoperative combination of epiretinal membrane peeling exhibited significant correlations with the development of postoperative vitreous cavity opacification (OR = 3.424, 95% CI 2.326–31.643, P = 0.023; OR = 3.612, 95% CI 1.263–14.676, P = 0.031, respectively). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on the first day post-surgery was significantly reduced across all degrees of opacification compared to the preoperative level (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference in BCVA was detected between the preoperative period, one-week post-operation, and the last follow-up (P > 0.05).

High myopia and intraoperative epiretinal membrane peeling may be associated with the development of more severe vitreous cavity opacity following silicone oil removal. This opacity generally resolves within one week post-surgery and does not appear to increase the risk of retinal re-detachment.