gms | German Medical Science

It has long been the case that all tamponade agents (gases and silicone oils) for intraocular use have been lighter than intraocular fluid and surgical injection techniques have reflected this state of affairs. Recent years have witnessed the advent of new substances (perfluorodecalin, perfluorooctane, semi-fluorinated alkanes and silicon oil alkane-mixtures) that have a higher specific gravity than water. These agents, for example, permit relatively straightforward intraoperative retinal reattachment without additional retinotomy; on the other hand, however, account must be taken of their special interfacial properties, which may lead to "spreading" of perfluorocarbon liquids under air. However, interfacial properties and specific gravity are particularly important, for example, in cases where silicone oils with perfluorocarbon components (heavy oils) are introduced into an eye where a decalene layer is already present; mixture of this with the heavy oil may result in turbidity. This presentation will introduce surgical procedures that have been adapted to reflect these altered conditions and will discuss the associated problems.