Comparison of Effect of Silicon Oil on Central Corneal Thickness and Corneal Endothelial-cell Density

Objective: To compare the mean changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial-cell density (CED) after removal of silicon oil (ROSO) using anterior (limbal) versus posterior (pars plana) approach in aphakic patients following successful retinal re attachment surgery. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO) Rawalpindi, from Dec 2014 to Aug 2015. Material and Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 aphakic patients who underwent removal of silicon oil from December 2014 to August 2015 in AFIO after successful retinal re-attachment surgery were analysed. Thirty eyes underwent removal of silicon oil through anterior (limbal) approach (group1) and 30 eyes through posterior (pars plana) approach (group-2). Pre-operative central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial-cell density was measured and compared with central corneal thickness and corneal endothelial-cell density measurements 3 months after removal of silicon oil. Results: Mean age of study population was 49.93 ± 5.18 years. Both groups were age and sex matched (p=0.694 and p=0.80 respectively). In group 1, mean change in CCT was 1.80 ± 6.58 micro meters (μm) and mean change in CED was 196.30 ± 33.78 cells per millimetres square (mm2), while in group 2, mean change in CCT was 1.63 ± 8.96 μm and mean change in CED was 60.20 ± 39.75 cells/mm2 after 3 months of ROSO. Mean change in CCT between two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.935), however, mean change in CED between two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Removal of silicon oil through anterior (limbal) approach causes significant reduction in CED, as compared to posterior (pars plana) approach in aphakic patients following successful retinal re attachment surgery.