Is Silicone Oil an Effective Treatment for Infectious Endophthalmitis?

Purpose: We report a case of infectious endophthalmitis in which treatment with silicone oil had an adverse outcome. Case summary: A 72-year-old woman underwent uneventful 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with cataract surgery for vitreous hemorrhage due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. On postoperative day 10, postoperative endophthalmitis was diagnosed, so we promptly irrigated the vitreous cavity and anterior chambers with antimicrobial mixed balanced salt solution and injected silicone oil. Pus was found below the silicone oil, 2 days after the silicone oil tamponade. On the next day, the silicone oil was removed. The ghost vessels at inferior retina were identified during removal of the silicone oil and they had not improved. Conclusion: Silicone oil may accelerate the damage occurring at the inferior retina in patients with infectious endophthalmitis.