Treatment of macular hole retinal detachment with silicone oil, with or without argon laser photocoagulation.

If the eyeball is filled with silicone oil after vitrectomy, the occlusion of the macular hole and the internal tamponade thus obtained cause the retina to become reattached. Unlike the results obtained with gas injection, occlusion and tamponade are permanent. If the regained visual acuity is less than 1/20, the edges of the macular hole are photocoagulated and the silicone oil withdrawn; if the regained visual acuity is better, the silicone oil is left in place without photocoagulation.