Intraocular dispersion of perfluorocarbon liquids in silicone oil

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology Vol. 136; no. 2; pp. 365 - 367
• Main Authors: CIARDELLA, Antonio P, LANGTON, Kevin, CHANG, Stanley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier 01.08.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Drainage - methods; Emulsions; Female; Fluorocarbons; Humans; Laser Coagulation; Medical sciences; Postoperative Complications - pathology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Reoperation; Retinal Detachment - surgery; Silicone Oils; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Vitrectomy - adverse effects; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative - surgery; Human; Retinal detachment; Retinopathy; Intraocular; Organic perhalocompound; Fluorocarbon; Dispersion; Case study; Persistence; Eye disease; Treatment; Surgery; Vitrectomy
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(03)00221-6

To report one case of intraocular emulsification of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) and silicone oil after vitrectomy surgery. Interventional case report. Retrospective review of the clinic, and surgical record of a 39-year old female referred for persistent retinal detachment after vitrectomy surgery; PFCLs and silicone oil were left in the eye at the end of the surgery. There was intraocular emulsification of PFCLs into silicone oil. Electron microscope examination of the silicone oil surgically extracted from the eye demonstrated emulsification of small PFCL bubbles into the silicone oil. Perfluorocarbon liquids are surgical tools. They should be completely removed from the eye at the end of the surgery; PFCLs and silicone oil tend to emulsify together, originating an opaque fluid, which contains both silicone oil and dispersed PFCL bubbles.