Case Series and Review Article: Perfluorocarbon Heavy Liquid as a Short-Term Tamponade after Vitrectomy for Inferior Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Abstract

This is to report outcomes of three cases with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) which were treated with vitrectomy and perfluorocarbon heavy liquid (PFCHL) insertion as short-term tamponade. We also aim to summarise the surgical outcomes and complications from the recent studies in PFCHL usage in vitrectomy surgeries. The mean tamponade period for our case series was 11 days. Two patients developed ocular hypertension, while another developed hypotony with subsequent retinal redetachment. Migration to the anterior chamber causing pupillary block glaucoma also occurred in one patient, requiring laser peripheral iridotomy. Previous studies reported that PFCHL is particularly useful for more complex cases of retinal detachment including giant retinal tears, inferior retinal tears, chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), inferior RRD and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) due to its unique physical properties. However, it is not recommended as tamponade for long duration due to possible retinal toxicity. Otherwise, most of the complications due to PFCHL can be managed either medically or surgically. PFCHL can be a useful post-operative tamponade agent in vitreoretinal surgeries. Close post-operative monitoring is crucial for the potential complications from PFCHL.