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. 2004 May;88(5):692-6.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.2003.024737.

Tamponade efficiency of perfluorohexyloctane and silicone oil solutions in a model eye chamber

C Wetterqvist  1 , D Wong, R Williams, T Stappler, E Herbert, S Freeburn
Affiliations

Tamponade efficiency of perfluorohexyloctane and silicone oil solutions in a model eye chamber

C Wetterqvist et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 May.

Abstract

Background/aim: As no single tamponade agent yet fulfils all the requirements of a long term inferior tamponade, attempts have been made to mix tamponade materials. This study investigated perfluorohexyloctane (F(6)H(8)) and silicone oil solutions designed to take advantage of the high specific gravity and interfacial tension of the F(6)H(8) and the high viscosity of silicone oil.

Methods: Solutions of three different densities were examined (1.01, 1.03 and 1.06 g/cm(3)) inside transparent chambers made of surface modified poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA).

Results: Compared to F(6)H(8), the solutions had poorer contact with hydrophilic surface of the chambers. The higher the specific gravity of the solution, the better was the contact. The solution with a specific gravity 1.01 g/cm(3) is probably of no use clinically.

Conclusion: The model eye chamber made of surface modified PMMA is an efficient way of screening and choosing solutions with promising physical properties. Solutions of silicone oil with F(6)H(8) in other proportions or with other semifluorinated alkanes may be of interest.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) A bubble of F6H8 coloured with Sudan black in a transparent chamber made of surface modified PMMA and filled with a 1% bovine albumin solution in phosphate buffered saline. (B) A bubble of F6H8 in a cylindrical chamber. The aqueous is coloured with methylene blue to enhance the contrast between the buffered saline solution of albumin and the F6H8.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Height of the bubble versus the volume of the bubble inside the chamber. Five readings were obtained for each incremental volume. The height of the F6H8/silicone oil solution (1.06 g/cm3) was significantly different from that of pure F6H8 and of perfluoro-octane.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Width of the bubbles against incremental volumes of tamponade agents. The width of the F6H8/silicone oil solution (1.06 g/cm3) was significantly different from that of pure F6H8 and of perfluoro-octane.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A volume of 2 ml of each tamponade agent: (A) F6H8, (B) F6H8/silicone solution A (1.01 g/cm3), (C) solution B (1.03 g/cm3), (D) solution C (1.06 g/cm3).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Height measurements of the bubbles of F6H8 and the F6H8/silicone oil solutions A (1.01 g/cm3), B (1.03 g/cm3), and C (1.06 g/cm3). Three measurements were taken at each added volume.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A, B) Representative images of 5 ml fill of F6H8/silicone solutions A (1.01 g/cm3) and C (1.06 g/cm3) in the cylindrical model chamber with one indent. Arrow C1 showed that there was aqueous below the indent which is even more marked at A1. Solution A makes contact with the opposite side of the model to a point higher up the chamber wall (arrow A2) than solution C (arrow C2). (C, D) Representative images of 5 ml fill of F6H8 and F6H8/silicone solution B (1.03 g/cm3) in the cylindrical model with two indents. Arrow F1 points to the F6H8 bubble (with Sudan black) which has a flat top surface whereas arrow B1 points to solution B bubble which has a rounded top surface. Arrow F2 shows that F6H8 fits into the recess below the indent whereas B2 shows clearly that there is aqueous below the indent.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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