Risk factors for elevated intraocular pressure after the use of intraocular gases in vitreoretinal surgery

Abstract

Background and objective: The authors studied the contribution of multiple factors, including gas type and concentration, to postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation following vitreoretinal surgery with intraocular gas.

Patients and methods: One hundred seventy-one eyes of 134 patients were retrospectively investigated after vitreoretinal surgery using air, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (10%-30%), or perfluoropropane (C3F8) (5%-35%).

Results: IOPs greater than 25 mm Hg occurred in 74 of 171 eyes (43%). Elevated IOP was associated with increasing patient age (P < .001), expansile gas concentrations (P < .001), use of C3F8 (P = .01), and circumferential scleral buckles (P = .04). Most IOP elevations (65 eyes, 88%) occurred within 24 hours and responded to aqueous suppression within 24 to 72 hours.

Conclusions: Transient IOP elevation is common following vitreoretinal surgery. Although it is responsive to treatment, it may pose a risk to some eyes. Prophylactic treatment should be considered in high-risk eyes.