Repeated fluid-gas exchange for hypotony after vitreoretinal surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Three patients with prolonged hypotony after vitreoretinal surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy were treated with repeated fluid-gas exchanges to maintain intraocular pressure and prevent the development of phthisis bulbi. We performed fluid-gas exchanges solely to treat the hypotony beyond the period when tamponade of retinal breaks was required, and without specific positioning of the bubble. In these patients, the intraocular pressure eventually returned to normal and useful vision was retained.