Purpose: To report the surgical success of vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade in the treatment of retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tears due to various factors.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 21 eyes of 21 patients with retinal tears 90 degrees or greater that underwent vitrectomy, with injection of perfluorocarbon liquids and silicone oil tamponade. Eight eyes (38.1%) had previous ocular surgery (4 aphakia-pseudophakia, 4 pars plana vitrectomy), 4 eyes (19.0%) had a history of trauma (blunt injuries in 2 and penetrating injury in 2), 3 (14.3%) had high myopia. Six eyes (28.6%) had no known condition predisposing to development of giant retinal tear.
Results: Retinal attachment was obtained in 17 (80.5%) of 21 eyes, with a mean follow-up of 12.5 months. Visual acuity improved in 15 eyes (71.4%).
Conclusions: Pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade proved highly effective in giant retinal tears in terms of anatomical and functional results.