[A modified gas bubble technique for treating an overhanging flap of a giant tear (author's transl)]

An overhanging flap of a giant tear was successfully unfolded with a small gas bubble after attempts with a large bubble had failed. Biomicroscopy revealed that in a primary case the posterior hyaloid membrane is not attached to the posterior flap of a giant tear. The small intraocular gas bubble has the shape of a planoconvex lens, while this is not so with a larger bubble. Due to its tapered edge the small bubble can slide under the overhanging flap and reattach it. The small gas bubble, however, is too small to tamponade the entire tear. Therefore, a second intraocular injection is required to enlarge the bubble. This gas bubble technique in two steps can be reduced to a single gas injection by using one of the new perfluoro-carbon gases described, which have a much greater expansion potential.