Treatment of retinal detachment with intraocular expandable gas injection

The injection of expandable gas into the vitreous is a new method for treating retinal detachment. The injected gas bubble seals the retinal break and allows absorption of subretinal fluid. In 12 patients, in all eyes treated by injection of sulfur hexafluoride, the detached retina became reattached. In 3 eyes (25%) detachment recurred. To achieve attachment again, both vitrectomy and the circling band operation were performed in 2 of them, and only the latter operation in the third. Risk factors for redetachment included detachment of the macula, retinal detachment larger than 5-o'clock-hours, and pseudophakia. Proper selection of patients for gas injection is most important.