CHOOSING THE OPTIMAL TAMPONADE IN SILICONE OIL REMOVAL: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BALANCED SALT SOLUTION, AIR, AND C3F8.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of balanced salt solution (BSS), air, and perfluoropropane (C3F8) as intraocular tamponade agents on visual acuity and intraocular pressure (IOP) after silicone oil (SO) removal surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 60 eyes that underwent 23-gauge SO removal and were assigned to the BSS, air, or 8% C3F8 groups (n = 20 per group). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and IOP were evaluated postoperatively at Day 1, Week 1, Month 1, and Month 3.

RESULTS

On postoperative Day 1, the BCVA was significantly better in the BSS group than in the air and C3F8 groups ( P < 0.001). At 1 week, BCVA in the air group improved to a level comparable with that in the BSS group ( P = 0.225), while the BCVA in C3F8 group remained worse than that in both groups ( P < 0.001 vs. BSS; P = 0.009 vs. air). At 1 and 3 months, BCVA did not differ significantly between the BSS and air groups ( P = 0.204 vs. 1 month; P = 0.168 vs. 3 months) but remained lower in the C3F8 group (all P < 0.05). No significant differences in IOP were found between groups at any time point.

CONCLUSION

BSS provides the fastest visual recovery after SO removal compared with air and C3F8. It is the optimal choice for improving both short- and long-term visual outcomes while maintaining normal IOP in routine cases.