Changes in ocular biometric measurements after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair

Background To observe the changes in ocular biometric measurements after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. Methods Sixty-three phakic, macula-off RRD eyes underwent vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade but not lens extraction were included in this retrospective study. Measurements of axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT) using the new Zeiss IOLMaster 700 and derivative lens position (LP), relative lens position (RLP) and lens-retina distance (LRD) were compared and analyzed between preoperative and postoperative in phakic, macula-off eyes with RRD. Results Preoperative AL, ACD, LT, LP, RLP and LRD were 24.94 +/- 1.82 mm, 3.45 +/- 0.42 mm, 4.34 +/- 0.16 mm, 5.55 +/- 0.41 mm, 0.22 +/- 0.01 and 19.52 +/- 1.82 mm. After a mean 4.85-month duration of silicone oil tamponade, postoperative AL, ACD, LT, LP, RLP and LRD were 25.42 +/- 2.20 mm, 3.30 +/- 0.41 mm, 4.43 +/- 0.21 mm, 5.46 +/- 0.40 mm, 0.22 +/- 0.02 and 20.17 +/- 2.36 mm, respectively. The differences in all measurements are significant (allP < 0.05). Preoperative AL and LRD are positively while RLP is negatively correlated with change in LRD. Change in AL but not in LT or LP is correlated with change in LRD. Biometric measurements except LT between preoperative and postoperative were in close agreement. Conclusion The underestimation of AL and anterior shifting of lens in phakic, macula-off eyes with RRD after vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade.