Jäger M., Jonas J. B.

Universitäts-Augenklinik, Fakultät für Klinische Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany

Purpose: To report on the clinical outcome of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy, subfoveal lavage and temporary ocular perfluorohexyloctane (F₆H₈) tamponade to prevent a subfoveal re-bleeding.
Patients and Methods: The study included 5 patients (age range, 75-87 years) who presented with a marked subretinal hemorrhage due to agerelated macular degeneration. They underwent pars plana vitrectomy with subfoveal lavage and F₆H₈ endotamponade. For two days to three weeks preoperatively, visual acuity was reduced to finger counting up to 0.03 .
Results: One patient developed five days after surgery a new subretinal hemorrhage. F₆H₈ was removed 70.25 days after surgery (range, 36 to 89 days). One phakic patient with preoperative primary open angle glaucoma developed an elevation of intraocular pressure due to emulsification of F₆H₈ and presence of small F₆H₈ bubbles in the anterior chamber. In all phakic eyes, a whitish amorphous membrane covered the retina after removal of the F₆H₈. Two patients developed a proliferative vitreoretinopathy during F₆H₈ -tamponade. After a follow-up time from 3 to 6 months, postoperative visual outcome was improved in three patients, stabilized in one patient, and reduced in one patient.
Conclusion: Perfluorohexyloctane may possibly be a possibility for ocular endotamponade of a subfoveal hemorrhage. A marked early emulsification of perfluorohexyloctane and the formation of a whitish epiretinal membrane deserve further intensive consideration. To avoid side effects, perfluorohexyloctane as soon as possible.

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