Perfluorohexyloctane as a long-term vitreous tamponade in the experimentalanimal - Experimental perfluorohexyloctane substitution

Background: Perfluorocarbon liquids are established tools for intraoperativ e hydrokinetic retinal manipulation. Because of their high specific gravity , however, they may well cause mechanical damage to the retina when applied as a long-term vitreous substitute. Perfluorohexyloctane, a semi-fluorinat ed liquid fluorocarbon of low specific gravity (1.35 g/cm(3)), was develope d as a long-term vitreous substitute. The current study was performed to in vestigate intraocular tolerance to perfluorohexyloctane as a long-term vitr eous substitute in the experimental animal. Methods: 34 vitrectomised eyes of pigmented rabbits underwent intravitreal injection of 1.0-1.2 ml perfluo rohexyloctane or balanced salt solution. In 5 eyes the anterior chamber was filled. During the follow-up period of 3 months, the eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscopy, by fluorescein angiography and by electroretinogr aphy. The eyes were then enucleated and processed for light- and electron m icroscopy. Results: Perfluorohexyloctane depicted dispersion beginning betw een the first and third week. Over a period of 9 weeks no toxic effect on r etina, lens and cornea was noticed. At 14 weeks ERG showed a slight decreas e in amplitude and early morphological changes in the retina. Conclusion: O ur findings suggest that perfluorohexyloctane is tolerated in the rabbit ey e for 9 weeks. Since avascular rabbit retina is more susceptible to mechani cal and toxic damage than vascularized primate retina, we suggest proceedin g from here, and investigating tolerance and quality of tamponade of perflu orohexyl octane in man for up to 9 weeks.