Effect of topical aqueous suppression on intraocular gas duration after pure perfluoropropane injection in nonvitrectomized eyes with retinal detachment.

Purpose: To determine whether topical aqueous suppressants affect the duration of pure expansile intraocular gas in nonvitrectomized eyes.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed on nonvitrectomized patients undergoing retinal detachment repair with scleral buckle or pneumatic retinopexy using 0.3 mL of 100% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade. Eyes were randomly assigned to receive topical dorzolamide 2% and timolol 0.5% twice daily postoperatively until gas dissolution or to observation.

Results: Twenty-one patients met all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twelve were randomized to the control group and nine to the dorzolamide-timolol group. In the dorzolamide-timolol group, mean intraocular pressure was 17.4 on postoperative Day 1 and 12.5 on postoperative Week 1 (P = 0.03). In the control group, mean intraocular pressure was 14.5 on postoperative Day 1 and 15.1 on postoperative Week 1 (P = 0.73). The mean duration of C3F8 was 37.8 days in the dorzolamide-timolol group and 40.4 days in the control group (P = 0.70).

Conclusion: Topical aqueous suppression does not seem to have a significant effect on the duration of pure expansile intraocular C3F8 in nonvitrectomized eyes after pneumatic retinopexy or scleral buckling.