Management options for submacular perfluorocarbon liquid

Abstract

Background and objective: To report the anatomic and visual outcomes of patients with retained submacular perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL).

Patients and methods: A retrospective observational case series of patients with retained submacular PFCL. The medical and surgical records of 8 eyes of 8 patients with retained submacular PFCL after complex retinal detachment repair were reviewed.

Results: The submacular PFCL was observed without surgery in 7 eyes and was surgically removed in one eye. In the surgical eye, the PFCL was juxtafoveal in location and had associated cystic macular edema. After surgical removal of the PFCL, visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/125 with marked reduction of the macular edema. The remaining 7 eyes were observed without surgery. Follow-up ranged from 10 months to 9 years, with a mean of 4.4 years. Six eyes had extrafoveal PFCL, with visual acuity ranging from 20/25 to 20/200 and 1 eye had subfoveal PFCL with a visual acuity of 20/25. Overall, visual acuity either improved or remained stable in all 7 eyes. The anatomy of the retina and the location of the PFCL also remained stable, although in one case, a small PFCL droplet coalesced into a more posteriorly located droplet.

Conclusion: Patients with submacular PFCL can remain stable for many years. In patients with significant visual loss, surgical removal of subfoveal PFCL can be considered.