Perfluoro-N-octane as Postoperative Vitreous Substitutes in Retinal Detachment: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of retinal detachment with a giant retinal tear, which was treated with perfluorocarbon liquid as an intraocular substitute. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old woman with a dislocated lens and a giant retinal tear underwent vitrectomy and lensectomy and was instructed to maintain a supine position after the operation. Perfluorocarbon liquid (Perfluoro-N-octane, C8F18) was used as a substitute in the vitreous cavity for 17 days. After 17 days, the perfluorocarbon liquid was removed and intraocular lens scleral fixation was performed. After removal of the perfluorocarbon liquid, the corneal endothelium was stable without other complications (including corneal edema, elevated intraocular pressure, ocular hypotony, macular pucker), and the best corrected visual acuity after intraocular lens scleral fixation was 0.4. CONCLUSIONS: Perfluorocarbon liquid is a useful surgical material in patients with a dislocated lens and retinal detachment with a giant retinal tear who have difficulty maintaining a prone position.