British Journal of Ophthalmology 2007;91:818-821
SCIENTIFIC REPORT
Mechanical energy from intraocular instruments cause emulsification of silicone oil
1 New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
2 225 E. 38th St New York, NY, 10016 USA
3 New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, NY, USA
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Paul A Latkany
New York Eye and Ear infirmary, 225 E. 38th St New York, NY, 10016 USA; all27email{at}yahoo.com
Aim: The complications of intraocular silicone oil include emulsification, which may lead to vision-threatening disorders such as keratopathy, secondary glaucoma and retinopathy. The authors study the effect of mechanical energy from surgical instruments on the emulsification of silicone oil.
Methods: Three different handpieces (phacofragmentation, phacoemulsification, high-speed vitrectomy) were placed at the interface of balanced salt solution and silicone oil (1000 and 5000 cst, 200 fluid; Dow Corning). The phacofragmentation handpiece was evaluated over different ultrasound powers and duration. Emulsification was quantified with phase-contrast microscopy and manual counting of digital photographs by a masked examiner. In addition, phacoemulsification was performed in the anterior chamber of a human ex vivo eye with full-fill silicone oil.
Results: Emulsification increases with higher phacofragmentation power and duration and is greater for 1000 cst silicone oil. Emulsification of silicone oil occurs with phacoemulsification and high-speed vitrectomy handpieces.
Conclusions: The energy from surgical handpieces is sufficient to result in silicone oil emulsification.
Keywords: silicone oils; phacoemulsification; phacofragmentation; vitrectomy
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