Perfluorocarbon liquid in traumatic vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment

Patients with penetrating ocular trauma also may have severe vitreous hemorrhage and associated retinal detachment. Removing the hemorrhage and repairing the detachment can be a difficult surgical problem. Besides the limited surgical view due to the hemorrhage, an incomplete separation of the posterior hyaloid membrane can allow the detached retina to be drawn toward the port of the vitrectomy instrument, producing an inadvertent retinal tear. We have used perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene (Vitreon) to manage three cases of penetrating ocular trauma with concurrent retinal detachment and a partial vitreous detachment, either at the time of surgery or as noted ultrasonographically. The perfluorocarbon liquid helped to separate the partially detached posterior hyaloid membrane and flatten the detached retina. This maneuver simplified removal of the vitreous hemorrhage and management of the retinal detachment.