Abstract Background To investigate the presence of silicone oil (SO)-emulsification on the anterior iris surface with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods In this single-center cross-sectional study, vitrectomized eyes with SO tamponade that underwent AS-OCT imaging and gonioscopy examination during the postoperative follow-up visits, were reviewed. Results 45 eyes of 42 consecutive patients were included. In 35.6% of the eyes (n = 16) emulsified SO droplets were detected in the anterior chamber (AC) angle by gonioscopy and in 55.6% (n = 25) on the anterior iris surface by AS-OCT imaging. The presence of SO emulsifications in the AC-angle correlated with the presence of SO emulsifications on the anterior iris surface (OR = 13.4, 95% CI [2.179–82.130]; p = 0.005). The accuracy of the AS-OCT predicting the presence of SO in the AC-angle was 71.0% and the sensitivity was 87.5%. No significant association between SO droplets in the AC and other clinical parameters including endotamponade-duration or type of silicone oil were found. The presence of emulsified SO droplets on the anterior iris surface detected by AS-OCT was significantly correlated to postoperative IOP rise (p = 0.027). Conclusion AS-OCT is a suitable method for the detection of SO on the anterior iris surface. SO droplets on the iris surface correlate with elevated postoperative IOP and with the presence of SO in the AC detected by gonioscopy, therefore AS-OCT might be used as a screening method for the detection of SO migration into the AC. Trial registration number Institutional Review Board of the Hamburg Medical Chamber (Ethik-Kommission der Ärztekammer Hamburg): 2023-300372-WF.