Purpose: To determine the intraocular tolerance of perfluorooctylbromide (perflubron) in vitrectomized rabbit and pig eyes and evaluated its use as a vitreous substitute in virteoretinal surgery.
Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed on 33 Dutch pigmented rabbits and 11 micro mini pigs. After vitrectomy the eyes were filled with perflubron for 2 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and up to 6 months.
Results: No clinical, electroretinographic, or light and electron microscopic evidence of adverse effects on the retina and lens were observed. Perflubron emulsified and dispersed into small bubbles after 2-3 weeks. The lens showed mild posterior subcapsular cataracts in pig eyes after long-term retention of perflubron.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that perflubron is safe for intraoperative and for long-term use intravitreally. However, emulsification and the breakdown into small bubbles limits the view of the retina when perflubron is used as a long-term tamponade.