One-Month Silicone Oil Tamponade Can Decrease Intraocular Complications via Reducing the Recruitment and Activation of Leukocytes in Patients with Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 1-month versus routine-duration silicone oil (SO) tamponade on intraocular inflammatory cytokine levels and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Methods: A prospective study from May 2019 to March 2022 divided patients undergoing vitrectomy into routine and early groups. Aqueous humor was sampled before SO removal to measure cytokine levels, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1α. Clinical outcomes such as SO emulsification, cataract formation, recurrent retinal detachment, corneal endothelial cell (CEC) density, and intraocular pressure were assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate differences and correlations between cytokine levels and clinical characteristics.

Results: The study analyzed 48 eyes, with 28 in the routine group and 20 in the early group. The early group had significantly lower IL-8 and TNF-α levels (p = 0.006 and p = 0.013) and reduced SO emulsification (p = 0.01). A significant trend toward fewer cataract cases and higher CEC density was observed in the early group (p = 0.019 and p = 0.015). IL-8 and TNF-α levels showed positive correlations with IL-10, MIP-1α.

Conclusion: One-month SO tamponade significantly reduces intraocular inflammatory cytokine levels and associated complications by decreasing the recruitment and activation of leukocytes. These findings suggest that shorter SO placement durations can effectively minimize inflammation-related complications while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. Future research should focus on optimizing SO tamponade protocols and exploring the underlying mechanisms of inflammation and emulsification to enhance the safety and efficacy of vitreoretinal surgeries.