Safe Removal of Sticky Silicone Oil Using Perfluorocarbon Liquid Injection and Emulsification with a Fragmatome

PURPOSE: We examine the safe removal of a sticky silicone oil (SO) with an inconspicuous perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) layer. METHODS: In the first experiment, we injected PFCL into the SO bubble on the bottom of a transparent container or into the chili oil layer of an immiscible droplet composed of PFCL and chili oil on the posterior retina of a vitrectomized pig eye, in order to release the SO bubble or the chili oil layer from the downward adhesion. In the second experiment, we sucked out the SO layer of an immiscible droplet composed of PFCL and SO on the bottom of a transparent container or on the posterior retina of a vitrectomized pig eye using a fragmatome. RESULTS: In the first experiment, the PFCL injection caused the SO bubble to move from the bottom of the transparent container and the chili oil to move from the posterior retina of the pig eye. In the second experiment, when the suction pressure was high, this made it easy and possible to remove the SO layer in the transparent container or the vitrectomized pig eye when emulsification was done by a fragmatome. CONCLUSION: Moving the SO layer of a sticky SO from the posterior retina after a PFCL injection followed by sucking out of the relocated SO layer using emulsification and high suction pressure through the utilization of a fragmatome can safely remove sticky SO with an inconspicuous PFCL layer.