Comparative study of vitrectomy for dropped nucleus with and without the use of perfluorocarbon liquid. Clinical, electrophysiological and visual field outcomes

Purpose: To compare pars plana vitrectomy for dropped nucleus with and with out perfluorocarbon liquid. Methods: 24 eyes with dropped nucleus were randomized to undergo PPV with p erfluorodecalin, (study, n=12) and without it (control, n=12). Visual acuit y, IOP, visual evoked response and electroretinography were noted at study entry and up to 3 months after PPV Humphrey perimetry was done at 3 months. Results: Final visual acuity was >20/60 in 75% of study eyes and 41.6% of c ontrols. The two groups were statistically comparable with regard to the ab ove parameters before PPV and during follow-up. The timing of vitrectomy di d not significantly influence the final visual acuity. A higher rate of com plications was seen in the control group. Conclusions: Perfluorodecalin facilitated the procedure and possibly minimi zed complications, and was found to be safe for intraoperative use in terms of recovery of visual acuity; stable ERG and VER, and normal visual fields .