Pneumatic retinopexy perfluoroethane (C2F6) in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

T. W. Bochow, R. J. Olk and J. M. Hershey
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.

Due to differences in expansile properties and duration, perfluorethane gas may offer advantages over other gases presently used for pneumatic retinopexy. Seventeen eyes with retinal detachments with single retinal breaks or groups of breaks no greater than 1 clock hour in extent were prospectively treated with perfluoroethane gas injection and retinocryopexy and followed up for a minimum of 6 months. Twelve eyes (71%) were attached with one procedure, and five eyes (29%) were attached with two or three procedures. Post-operative proliferative vitreoretinopathy occurred in two eyes (12%), new or missed breaks in three eyes (18%), and premacular fibroplasia in one (6%) eye. No eyes had an apparent progression of cataracts. Seven (88%) of eight eyes with preoperative macular detachments had improved visual acuity after surgery. All nine eyes (100%) with preoperative macular attachment had the same or improved visual acuity after surgery. The efficacy of perfluoroethane appears similar to that of other perfluorocarbon gases.