Vitrectomy following complicated
retinal detachment (PVR, giant tears, persistent
retinal detachments or redetachments) has become standard in ophthalmic surgery. Intraocular tamponade is performed with gas (e.g. SF-6) or
silicone oil. We retrospectively analyzed our functional and anatomical results after
vitrectomy with SF-6 gas tamponade in complicated cases of
retinal detachment. Ninety-four severe
retinal detachments in 85 patients were treated by
vitrectomy using SF-6 gas tamponade in the period from July 1990 to June 1991. In 68% of eyes complete
retinal reattachment was achieved with the use of SF-6 gas. Thirty-two per cent of the operated eyes developed
retinal redetachment an average of 3.4 weeks after initial surgery; 27% of those eyes were treated again with the use of
silicone oil. The success rate using
vitrectomy with SF-6 gas ranged between 46% and 74%, depending on pathogenetic factors. The best results were obtained in patients receiving primary
vitrectomy for complicated
retinal detachment. It is concluded that SF-6 gas is a successful tool in the treatment of severe
retinal detachment with primary
vitrectomy. In cases of persistent or recurrent detachment of the retina the results are not equally good and these cases merit consideration of
silicone oil tamponade, depending on the severity of the disease process. However, no definite preoperative criteria for the success of
vitrectomy and gas tamponade were identified.