TY - JOUR T1 - Release of silicone oil and the off-label use of syringes in ophthalmology JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 291 LP - 296 DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-313823 VL - 104 IS - 2 AU - Gustavo Barreto Melo AU - Geoffrey Guy Emerson AU - Celso Souza Dias Jr AU - Fábio Barreto Morais AU - Acacio de Souza Lima Filho AU - Shoko Ota AU - Michel Eid Farah AU - Eduardo Büchele Rodrigues AU - Maurício Maia AU - Rubens Belfort Jr Y1 - 2020/02/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/104/2/291.abstract N2 - Background/aims To assess silicone oil (SO) release by different brands of syringes used for intravitreal injection under different handling conditions.Methods Eight syringes were analysed: from the USA, Terumo 0.5 mL, Becton-Dickinson (BD) Tuberculin 1 mL, BD Luer-lok 1 mL, BD Ultra-Fine 0.3 mL and Exel Insulin 0.3 mL; from Germany, Braun Omnifix-F 1 mL and Braun Injekt-F 1 mL and from Spain, BD Plastipak 1 mL. The impact of air, priming the plunger, agitation by flicking and fluid temperature on SO release were assessed by light microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to identify the molecular compound in each syringe.Results Five hundred and sixty syringes were analysed. Terumo 0.5 mL and BD Ultra-Fine 0.3 mL released more SO than all others. BD Luer-lok 1 mL, BD Plastipak and Braun Omnifix-F 1 mL released little SO; BD Tuberculin 1 mL, Exel 0.3 mL and Braun Injekt-F 1 mL released the least SO. Priming the syringe and different temperatures did not significantly affect SO release. Agitation by flicking caused a significantly higher proportion of samples to have SO droplets and an increased number of oil droplets. Air had an additive effect on the release of oil in the agitation groups. FTIR identified polysiloxane in all syringes but Injekt-F.Conclusion Syringes commonly used for intravitreal injections frequently release SO droplets, especially when agitated by flicking. To avoid unnecessary ocular risks, syringes should not be agitated before intravitreal injection. It is desirable that syringes be manufactured specifically for ophthalmic use. ER -