EFFECTS OF THE LONG-TERM USE OF PERFLUOROPERHYDROPHENANTHRENE ON THE RETINA

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.