Evaluating the effect of Perfluoropropane assisted pneumatic vitreolysis in cases of symptomatic focal vitreomacular traction

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pneumatic vitreolysis (PVL) in the management of symptomatic focal vitreomacular traction (VMT). Patients and methods This prospective non-comparative interventional study was conducted on 21 eyes of 20 patients with isolated focal VMT detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT). All patients were symptomatic complaining of decreased vision and/or metamorphopsia with persistence of VMT for at least 3 months before intervention. All patients received a single intravitreal injection of 0.3 ml pure perfluoropropane (C3F8) and were followed up for 6 months post-injection. During the follow up period, the patients were evaluated regarding the occurrence of release of VMT as detected by OCT, the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and the change in central macular thickness (CMT) by OCT. Results The single intravitreal gas injection of C3F8 resulted in the release of VMT in 16 (76.2%) eyes. The mean BCVA significantly improved from 0.71±0.16 LogMAR (range: 1–0.5) at baseline to 0.38±0.22 LogMAR (range: 1.0–0.2) by the final visit at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.001). In addition, the mean CMT significantly decreased from 461.67±68.60 µm (range: 318–573 µm) at baseline to 331.55±90.27 µm (range: 278–568 µm) at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.001). One patient developed a retinal break and was treated by retinopexy, and one patient developed a full-thickness macular hole that was treated by vitrectomy. Conclusions PVL was found to be an effective method for treatment of symptomatic VMT.

Keywords

• best corrected visual acuity
• perfluoropropane (c3f8)
• central macular thickness
• intravitreal gas injection
• optical coherence tomography
• pneumatic vitreolysis
• vitreomacular traction