INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE DURING PNEUMATIC RETINOPEXY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A simplified method of monitoring intraocula r pressure (IOP) during pneumatic retinopexy was devised and used clin ically to decrease the risk of complications associated with unnecessa ry IOP elevation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intraoperative IOP and IOP imm ediately after sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) injection were monitored duri ng pneumatic retinopexy in 22 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachm ent. Intraoperative IOP was measured with a sphygmomanometer connected to the side of a gas-filled syringe. RESULTS: Intraoperative IOP and IOP immediately after gas injection were 97.2 +/- 28.5 (mean +/- SD) a nd 46.5 +/- 19.6 mm Hg, respectively. Two eyes temporarily lost light perception immediately after the gas injection. The intraoperative IOP and the IOP immediately after the gas injection were 130 and 80 mm Hg , respectively, in one eye, and 180 and 90 mm Hg, respectively, in the other. CONCLUSIONS: In general, to ensure effective and safe results of pneumatic retinopexy, the authors recommend that the gas be injecte d either to approximately 90 mm Hg of intraoperative IOP or to the max imum acceptable volume (2.0 to 2.5 ml of 100% SF6).