Retention of silicone oil droplets from ophthalmic viscosurgical devices in the drainage angle of 2 eyes.

We report the outcome in 2 eyes of 2 patients with retained silicone oil droplets in the anterior chamber drainage angle after the use of an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) during cataract surgery. Silicone oil droplets were observed when the OVD was injected into the anterior chamber during phacoemulsification. Despite removal by irrigation and aspiration, droplets were observed in the anterior chamber during the immediate postoperative period. At 15 months, they were observed in the drainage angle. The retained silicone did not produce untoward side effects in the eyes. Silicone oil is a common contaminant in OVDs but appears to be inert and harmless when retained in small amounts in the anterior chamber drainage angle.