Perfluorocarbon liquids have gained wide acceptance as intraoperative
tools that can simplify vitreoretinal surgical maneuvers. These low-vi
scosity liquids facilitate injection into the eye and removal from the
eye during surgery. Tolerance to perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene and th
e development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy with its extended use
are not clear. The authors present the clinical and histologic findin
gs of a patient, previously lost to follow-up, who was examined after
several weeks of intraocular tamponade with perfluoroperhydrophenanthr
ene. Damage to the retina was seen in response to the long-term postop
erative use of perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene.