title: Perfluorocarbon liquids in vitreoretinal surgery: a review of applications and toxicity.
abstract: Since their introduction by Chang et al. in 1987, perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) have become a useful tool in vitreoretinal surgery. They are synthetic compounds with carbon-fluorine chemical chains that have specific physico-chemical properties, which make them valuable for the intraoperative management of the retina by simplifying vitreoretinal surgical maneuvers in a variety of settings. These maneuvers include retinal detachments associated with proliferative vitreous retinopathy, following penetrating trauma, giant retinal tears, dislocated lenses or lens implants and complications from proliferative diabetic vitreoretinopathy. Purified PFCLs are generally considered to be biologically inert. Despite the stability of PFCLs during vitreoretinal surgery, several studies have indicated that these compounds may be associated with toxicity in ocular tissues. The purpose of this review is to report the use and toxicity of PFCLs in vitreoretinal surgery and to present the latest perspectives on modified PFCLs (hydrofluorocarbon liquids (HFCLs) and HFCL-oligomers).
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, Ophthalmology, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgalas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ladas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tservakis
authors.forename: Sergios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taliantzis
authors.forename: Eustratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotzaridis
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papaconstantinou
authors.forename: Chryssanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutsandrea
mesh_terms: D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D057586:Vitreoretinal Surgery / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions