Perfluorocarbone Liquids for Tamponading Lower Retinal Breaks to Achieve Retinal Reattachment in Eyes of Retinal Detachment With Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

Patients and methods The study includes thirty eyes of 30 patients with dense cataract, retinal detachment (RD) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and inferior breaks (18 females and 12 males) in the period from October, 2017 to August, 2019 at ophthalmology department, Minia University Hospital. Approval of the study was provided by Faculty of Medicine, Research Ethics Committee and it was in agreement with the tents of Declaration of Helsinki and all patients were singed a consent explaining the risk and benefits of their operation. All of the patients was followed for 12 months.

Preoperative examinations History taking included age, sex, laterality and systemic diseases and medications. Ophthalmological examinations including visual acuity assessment, IOP measurement, anterior segment slit lamp examinations, Dilated fundus examinations using indirect ophthalmoscope as well as with the auxiliary lenses and slit lamp aid, retinal chart drawing, biometry and ultrasonography if needed.

Surgical technique All of cases were done under peribulbar anesthesia. First, phacoemulsification was performed through clear corneal temporal incision with implantation of hydrophobic acrylic IOL in the capsular bag and closure of wound by a 10/0 nylon suture. This was followed by 23-G pars plana vitrectomy. Core vitrectomy was done and triamcinolone acetonide was injected to ensure complete posterior vitreous detachment. All epiretinal membranes were removed helped by the use of membrane blue (trypan blue 0.15%, DORC International). Then, perfluorocarbone liquid (PFCL) was injected to flatten the posterior retina and base vitrectomy was performed helped by scleral depression. More PFCL was injected to drain subretinal fluid through the original retinal breaks. All retinal breaks were surrounded by 3-4 rows of diode endolaser photocoagulation. Then, fluid air exchange was performed to aspirate PFCL leaving a part of it enough to tamponade the lower retinal breaks and 12% C3F8 (perfluoropropane) was injected into the eye. After 2 weeks, the remaining PFCL was aspirated and replaced with 12% C3F8.

Post-operative management All patients were given topical prednisolone 1% (Optipred, Jamjoom pharma Co.) eye drops (QID) and tapered through 4-6 weeks, cyclopentolate 0.5 % eye drops (TID), moxifloxacin 0.3 mg (Vigamox, Alcon Co.) eye drops QID for 1 week and Maxitrol ointment (Neomycin sulphate 3.5 mg, Polymyxin B sulphate 10000 IU and dexamethasone 0.1%, Alcon Co) at night for 4 weeks. Follow up visits were advised next postoperative day, one week, , one month, and then each three months for 1 year.

All patients underwent full ophthalmologic examination including BCDVA, IOP, anterior segment slit lamp examination, and dilated fundus examination. Baseline results and that of 1, 3 6, 9 months, and 1year were included in the statistical analysis. This study primary outcome is to achieve successful retinal reattachment and the secondary outcome is to achieve improvement in the visual acuity (BCDVA, log MAR). Successful surgery was considered when retinal reattachment was achieved, improvement in the visual acuity without serious complications such as suprachoroidal hemorrhage, retinal detachment or endophthalmitis.