Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene versus perfluoro-n-octane in vitreoretinal surgery

Purpose: To compare two perfluorocarbon liquids, perfluoroperhydrophenanthr ene (Vitreon) and perfluoro-n-octane (PFO), regarding (1) ease of removal a t the time of surgery and (2) efficacy and safety. Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial. Participants: Two hundred sixty-four patients, Methods: All medical records of patients who participated in either the Vit reon (n = 142) or the PFO (n = 122) multicenter trials at the Wilmer Eye In stitute were reviewed, Patients in the two groups were compared with respec t to presence and amount of postoperative perfluorocarbon, Safety and effic acy of the two perfluorocarbon liquids were evaluated in the subset of pati ents undergoing surgery for retinal detachment with PVR grade C or more, wh o had at least 6 months of postoperative follow-up (n = 46 in the Vitreon g roup and n = 55 in the PFO group), Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocula r pressure, and status of the cornea, lens, and retina after 3, 6, and 12 m onths of follow-up were compared in the two groups, Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of eyes with retained perfluorocarbon, fi nal visual acuity, final retinal attachment rate, Results: At the 6-month postoperative visit, retained Vitreon or PFO was de tected in 8.4% and 4% of the eyes, respectively (P < 0.05), No statisticall y significant difference was found between the two perfluorocarbons in atta chment rate or visual acuity after 6 and 12 months, After 6 months, the ret ina was attached in 71.7% of the eyes in which Vitreon was used and in 78.3 % of the eyes in which PFO was used (P = 0.81), Visual acuity improved or r emained stable in 80% of the Vitreon group eyes and in 74.5% of the PFO gro up eyes (P = 0.75), No statistically significant difference was found in fi nal visual acuity or intraocular pressure between the two groups after 6 or 12 months. There was a tendency at the 12-month follow-up examination for the cornea to remain clearer in the Vitreon group (P = 0.01), Conclusions: Although PFO was easier to visualize and remove completely fro m within the eye at the time of surgery, the efficacy in terms of retinal a ttachment and final visual outcome was similar between the Vitreon and PFO groups. Ophthalmology 2000; 107:1078-1082 (C) 2000 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.