PERFLUOROCARBON LIQUID IN TRAUMATIC VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE AND RETINAL-DETACHMENT

Patients with penetrating ocular trauma also may have severe vitreous hemorrhage and associated retinal detachment. Removing the hemorrhage and repairing the detachment can be a difficult surgical problem. Besi des the limited surgical view due to the hemorrhage, an incomplete sep aration of the posterior hyaloid membrane can allow the detached retin a to be drawn toward the port of the vitrectomy instrument, producing an inadvertent retinal tear. We have used perfluoroperhydrophenanthren e (Vitreon) to manage three cases of penetrating ocular trauma with co ncurrent retinal detachment and a partial vitreous detachment, either at the time of surgery or as noted ultrasonographically. The perfluoro carbon liquid helped to separate the partially detached posterior hyal oid membrane and flatten the detached retina. This maneuver simplified removal of the vitreous hemorrhage and management of the retinal deta chment.