Background: This study aimed to determine whether, in eyes treated for macular hole by vitrectomy and autologous platelet injection,
short-term tamponade with SF
6 gas was as effective as longer tamponade with C
3F
8 gas.
Methods: Patients in group 1 (
n=31) had vitrectomy, injection of platelet concentrate, and 16% C
3F
8 gas/air exchange. Patients in group 2 (
n=31) were similarly treated, except that 23% SF
6 gas was used. Group 1 patients were required to posture prone for 2–4 weeks, group 2 for 6 days.
Results: All patients had 3 months’ follow-up. Postoperatively, visual acuity improved faster in group 2. However, the final mean
improvement in logMAR acuity was similar in both groups. Intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes occurred in 12 patients in group
2 and in 17 patients in group 1. Posterior subcapsular cataract (PSCC) occurred in 55% of cases in group 1 and in just 37%
in group 2. The rate of anatomical success in group 1 was 96.7%, and in group 2, 93.5% (
P=1.0).
Conclusions: The combination of SF
6 gas, platelet concentrate, and short-term prone posturing gave a degree of anatomical and visual success comparable to that
of the group which had longer tamponade. Although no differences were statistically significant, several trends did emerge;
in group 2, patients recovered visual acuity faster, had fewer IOP spikes, and there were fewer cases of PSCC formation.
Received: 22 June 1999 Revised: 24 February 2000 Accepted: 9 March 2000