Abstract
Purpose: :
This study was performed to compare the efficacy of perfluorobutylpentane (F4H5) and perfluorohexyloctane (F6H8) in dissolving silicone oil from the surface of silicone intraocular lenses.
Methods: :
Silicone lenses were examined after application of 10 µl- droplets of silicone oil of two different viscosities (1000 and 5000 cSt) followed by repeated rinsing with 25 µl F4H5 or F6H8. To allow distinction between silicone oil and the solvents and to measure the washing effect the silicone oil was stained by the fluorescent lipophilic carbocyanine DiI. Microscopic examination was carried out under video control.
Results: :
25 µl of F4H5 reduced the fluorescence of silicon oil 1000 or 5000 to 15 % and 28%, respectively. 25 µl of F6H8 reduced the fluorescence of silicon oil 1000 or 5000 only to 45 % and 71%, respectively. 175 µl or 225 µl of F4H5 were able to completely remove the droplet of silicone oil 1000 or 5000, respectively, whereas after washing with 225 µl of F6H8 there remained 0.3% and 0.9% of the silicone 1000 or 5000 fluorescence, respectively.
Conclusions: :
A smaller volume of F4H5 than F6H8 is able to completely remove silicone oil 1000 or 5000 from silicon lenses. The higher solubility of F4H5 to both, silicon oil 1000 and 5000 will facilitate removing silicone oil from the surface of silicone intraocular lenses. Intraocular use of F4H5 is safe and first clinical data underlines the effectiveness as a wash- out agent after contact of silicone lenses with silicone oil.
Keywords: intraocular lens • vitreous substitutes • cataract