Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 12, 2025
Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation in a Non-human Primate Model for Degenerative Retinal Diseases
Published on: June 14, 2021
SUBRETINAL AIR USED AS A BALL VALVE TO STABILIZE A RETINAL BLEB
Sunir J Garg1, Florian Gekeler2
1Mid Atlantic Retina, The Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and.
Purpose:
To describe a technique of using subretinal air to create and stabilize a neurosensory detachment performed during placement of a subretinal implant.
Methods:
A case report of an experiment in a live porcine model.
Results:
Creation of a neurosensory detachment may be facilitated by instillation of subretinal air. We use a small-gauge cannula to infuse approximately 0.1 mL of subretinal air to create a neurosensory detachment. We then expand the bleb using an additional 0.1 cc to 0.2 cc of subretinal air followed by balanced salt solution and stabilize it further with installation of viscoelastic. The small-gauge retinotomy should be created on the anterior and superior aspect of the bleb so that the air can tamponade the retinotomy both during surgery and postoperatively.
Conclusion:
This technique may be useful for some newer procedures, such as subretinal implants and perhaps administration of subretinal gene therapy or cell therapy, that require access to the subretinal space.
