[Use of silicone oil for temporary tamponade in the treatment of retinal detachment with vitreoretinal retraction. 1. Short- and long-term anatomic and functional results in 110 cases].

Vitreoretinal retraction treated by silicone oil injections to provide internal tamponade after vitrectomy showed total reapplication in 28.2%, persistent residual detachment with a flat posterior pole in 18.2%, and a measurable visual acuity in 40%, including 10% of patients in show it was superior to 2/10. When immediate postoperative visual acuity could be measured this good result remained stable. When relapse occurred in spite of the presence of the silicone, it involved patients with the lowest postoperative visual acuity due to progressive major retinal fibrosis. These findings suggest that silicone oil injection is a valid procedure for treatment of retinal detachment requiring internal tamponade, and that perhaps its earlier use is indicated. Part 2 discusses its tolerance of this material.