AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of perfluorocarbon liquid(PFCL)as a short term postoperative tamponade for treating retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tears.

METHODS: Data was retrieved from the medical charts of patients who underwent vitrectomy from January 1998 to December 2010 at a single medical center. Success rates of retinal reattachment, visual outcome, and postoperative complications were compared between procedures with and without PFCL.

RESULTS: At the end of surgery, all retinas were attached in the 22 eyes(21 patients)treated with PFCL and in the 14 eyes(14 patients)not treated with PFCL as temporary tamponade. Final reattachment rates were 81.8% and 42.9%, respectively(P<0.05). Four eyes(18.2%)in the study group compared to 7 eyes(50%)in the control group developed severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy with persistent retinal detachment. Visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 73.3% of the study group and 26.7% of the control group, P<0.05. Visual acuity improved in 50.0% of patients in the study group and 14.3% in the control group. Visual acuity worsened in 22.7% of the patients in the study group and 57.1% in the control group(P=0.054).

CONCLUSION: Perfluorocarbon liquid appears safe and effective as a short term postoperative tamponade in the management of retinal detachment from giant retinal tears and in the prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.