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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Wetterqvist
C
C
Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK.
Wong
D
D
Williams
R
R
Stappler
T
T
Herbert
E
E
Freeburn
S
S
D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D005123:Eye / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011312:Pressure; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000628:therapy; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D013046:Specific Gravity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014783:Viscosity
D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012827:Silicone Oils; C118616:perfluorohexyl-octan; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate