title: Intraocular formation of heavy oil in the subretinal space.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heavy oil formation was found in the subretinal space in three patients with repeated vitreoretinal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  These patients had received perfluorocarbon liquid (PFL) and silicone oil injection for retinal detachment in a previous surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transparent "heavy density" oil bubble was found in the subretinal space in these patients. The heavy oil bubble was eventually removed by manual aspiration with a blunt-tipped 21-gauge needle. The retinas were reattached in all three cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silicone oil may mix with incompletely removed PFL to form heavy oil. During reoperation for persistent retinal detachment, these substances should be specifically sought and removed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jehn-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chung-May
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery*; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D014821:Vitrectomy; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012827:Silicone Oils; C008805:perfluorodecalin