Cyclic polydimethylsiloxane for diabetic retinopathy：a 6-month follow-up on changes of the optic nerve

Xiaojin CHEN; Min WANG; Runsheng WANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

In the clinical treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the therapeutic effects of different filers on the retina and optic nerve after the removal of the vitreous are lack of comprehensive and detailed reports.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the changes of retina and optic nerve in patients with diabetic retinopathy after filing cyclic polydimethylsiloxane.

METHODS:

Totaly 147 patients with diabetic retinopathy undergoing vitreous removal were enroled, including 77 males and 70 females, aged 35to70 years. The vitreous from 74 patients with diabetic retinopathy was filed with cyclic polydimethylsiloxane (test group). The cyclic polydimethylsiloxane was taken out at 3 months post-operation. The vitreous from another 73 patients with diabetic retinopathy was filed with the whole fluorine propane (control group). The changes of retina, optic nerve, intraocular pressure, and the occurrence of vitreous re-hemorrhage and cataract after operation were observed in these two groups. RESULTS AND

CONCLUSION:

After 7 days of folow-up, the intraocular pressure of patients in the test group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After 6 months of folow-up, there was no significant difference in the intraocular pressure between these two groups. After 6 months of folow-up, cyclic polydimethylsiloxane was successfuly removed in the test group, retinal blood vessels became thinning with the presence of white sheath, and the number of optic nerves was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of vitreous re-hemorrhage and cataract in the test was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that after the removal of the vitreous, cyclic polydimethylsiloxane filing can lead to optic atrophy in patients with diabetic retinopathy.