Methods:
A retrospective review was performed on patients, who presented with acute-onset, macula-off, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment within a 6-month period. 11 patients underwent surgical repair using perfluorodecalin (PFD). Eleven comparable cases, treated without the use of PFD, were randomly selected from the same period. All patients underwent 3-port pars plana vitrectomy, cryo or laser retinopexy and gas tamponade. In the PFD group, PFD was used to achieve a complete reattachment of the retina, preoperatively, followed by exchange with air. In the conventional group, retinal reattachment was achieved by aspiration of subretinal fluid during fluid-air exchange.
Results:
The mean preoperative LogMAR visual acuity (VA) was 2.24 in the PFD group and 1.36 in the conventional group (p =0.03). Three months postoperatively, the mean log MAR VA was 0.34 in the PFD group and 0.33 in the conventional group (p =0.45). Visual acuity improved in the PFD group by a mean of 1.90 log MAR units, compared to 1.04 log MAR units in the conventional group (p=0.03). There was no recurrence of retinal detachment in either group. OCT findings in patients with PFD did not demonstrate sub-retinal fluid.
Conclusions:
Rapid visual improvement in patients with poor vision and macular off retinal detachment can be achieved by the use of per-operative PFD. Visual improvement was better in the PFD, however this could be due to the tendency to prefer PFD in more severe retinal detachments.
Keywords: retinal detachment • vitreoretinal surgery • vitreous substitutes