Comparison of best corrected visual acuity following balanced salt solution or silicone oil injection in phakic and pseudophakic vitrectomized eyes

Background: To evaluate the effect of silicone oil (SO) on bestcorrected visual acuity in phakic and pseudophakic vitrectomizied eyes. Material and methods: This prospective comparative case-control study evaluated the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in SO filled vitrectomizied eyes (case group 64 eyes) compared to the vitrectomizied eyes without SO injection (control group 46 eyes). The preoperative and postoperative BCVA evaluated by Snellen chart were compared between two groups. Exclusion criteria was consist of aphakia, any degree of anterior chamber inflammation, SO bubbles in anterior chamber and increased intraocular pressure in postoperative period. Results: In the silicone oil group mean ±SD preoperative log MAR of BCVA was 1.76 ± 0.60 compared to 1.82 ± 0.52 in control group (P= 0.655), and mean postoperative log MAR of BCVA was 1.68 ± 0.56 compared to 1.55 ± 0.63 in control group (P = 0.23). There were no significant differences among groups. Conclusion: SO in vitreous cavity of phakic and pseudophakic eyes could change vision in some of the patients. In this study, improvement of visual outcome occurred at the end of six months in both groups and SO per se has not been found to be an attributable factor for reduction of BCVA in patients.