The treatment of difficult retinal detachments with an expanding gas bubble without vitrectomy

Abstract
In a prospective study on the use of perfluorocarbon gases (CF4, C2F6, C3F8) without prior mechanical vitrectomy, 51 retinal detachments that were not suitable for scleral buckling were treated by injection of a small bubble of gas into the vitreous to form a tamponade. There were 23 patients with giant tears, 16 with posterior holes, 9 with breaks at different latitudes, and 3 in whom the gas was used for diagnostic purposes. The gases were sustained at therapeutic volumes for 10–70 days. The tears were sealed with argon or krypton laser. The overall reattachment rate was 71%. Postoperative visual acuity improved or remained the same in all patients with reattached retina. In a follow-up of 1 year - 38 months there were no late complications, such as cataract, glaucoma, keratopathy, or subsequent visual deterioration.

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