Outcomes of Using Perfluorocarbon Liquid as Postoperative Tamponade in Complex Inferior Retinal Detachments

To determine the outcomes of using perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) as postoperative tamponade in complex inferior retinal detachments.

Quasi-experimental study.

Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Eye Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2020 to December 2021.

This study was carried out on forty eyes of forty patients from the surgical retina clinic with rhegmatogenous inferior retinal detachment involving macula having proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C (PVR grade-C). All eyes underwent 25G pars plana vitrectomy with PFCL as postoperative tamponade for 15 to 21 days. All patients were advised to maintain supine position postoperatively. PFCL-Silicon oil exchange was done after 15-21 days. The outcomes were measured as complete retinal reattachment between the neurosensory retina (NSR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), changes in postoperative visual acuity and complications. Patients were followed up for a minimum duration of 6 months. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.

In 39 out of 40 eyes (97.5%) retina was completely attached. Postoperative visual acuity was improved in 24 eyes (60%), while in 16 eyes (40%) it remained stable. Worsening of visual acuity was not noted in any case. During follow-ups, uveitis was detected in 2 eyes (5%), cataract in 4 eyes (10%), optic atrophy in 2 eyes (5%) and endophthalmitis and subsequently redetachment in 1 eye (2.5%).

In complex inferior retinal detachments, PFCL is safe and effective postoperative tamponade provided it is used for a short-term period, especially in those patients who are noncompliant with postoperative face-down position.

Perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL), Postoperative tamponade, Complex inferior retinal detachments.