Natural History of a Large Bubble of Migratory Submacular Perfluorocarbon

To report the natural history of a large bubble of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) in a parafoveal subretinal position which was monitored using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The bubble of PFCL was removed when it migrated to the subfoveal position; outcome after removal is also reported.

A 62-year-old male, after repair of a giant retinal tear (GRT) detachment, regained Snellen acuity of 6/18 from preoperative vision of CF at 1 meter. A large bubble of subretinal PFCL was in the superior parafoveal area. For 18 months, the PFCL bubble was monitored using OCT and OCTA until it migrated into the subfoveal position after 22 months, coinciding with a decrease in vision to 6/36. Surgical removal of subfoveal PFCL was performed. This involved detachment of the foveomacular, epiretinal membrane (ERM) peel (complicated by iatrogenic macular hole (MH) formation), intravitreal injection of PFCL to displace subretinal PFCL to the periphery, creation of an inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap to repair the MH and air exchange. Postoperative vision remained 6/36. His postoperative OCT showed significant loss of subfoveal outer retina. On OCTA, the superficial and deep vascular plexi and choriocapillaris appeared to be intact after the removal of the subfoveal PFCL.

This report suggests that a large superior parafoveal bubble of PFCL may take as much as 18 months to migrate to the subfoveal position. Before this time, vision does not appear to be affected, though macular edema is present. Therefore, removal of the PFCL can be delayed until a convenient time for surgeon and patient. A large bubble of parafoveal PFCL ought to be removed before migrating to a subfoveal position and vision loss, since its removal will reduce the risk of outer retina loss.