Incidence and risk factors associated with retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal in the African population

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with retinal redetachment after silicone oil (SO) removal in the African population. A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients undergoing SO removal over a period of 4 years. The risk factors assessed were (1) characteristics of the retinal detachments including type of retinal detachment, type, number and location of the retinal tears, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) score, and (2) surgical factors including type of silicone oil used, use of laser prior to SO removal, and location of the laser (360° or around the tear only). SO was removed either through a pars plana approach or transpupillary approach and anterior limbal incision. Ninety-nine eyes met the inclusion criteria during the study period. Twelve patients (12 %) had retinal redetachment after SO removal. Factors associated with redetachment were a preexisting macular hole, PVR grade B or worse, and no intraoperative endolaser photocoagulation. The incidence of redetachment in African population is similar to that reported from developed countries and other advanced vitreoretinal centers. Redetachment occurred at higher rates in patients with preexisting macular holes and tears who did not receive intraoperative endolaser photocoagulation and patients with a severe grade of PVR.