macular hole surgery

[sunshinefl]

My husband is going to have surgery to repair a macular hole in a few weeks. He has been given the option of a short lasting gas or longer lasting gas replacement after his vitrectomy. Is there any added risk  to choosing a shorter acting gas replacement bubble or is it best to choose the other (which I think is called C3F8 gas)?

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

No.

Dr. O.

[sunshinefl]

Regarding  the SF6 short acting gas, I thought I heard the doctor say at my husband's last consultation that when using the shorter acting gas it would also mean that repeat surgery would not be possible ( I assume he meant in the remote case of the macular hole reopening) Did my husband and I misunderstand ? Thank you for your insight and expertise. We greatly appreciate it.

sunshinefl

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

A short acting gas usually sulfur hexaflouride (SF6) may not stay in the eye long enough.  A long acting gas probably perflouropropane (C3F8) will last longer but also has a higher incidence of cataracts.

If he has a natural lens in the eye, I use SF6.  If he already had cataract surgery I use C3F8.  The hole has a better chance of closing if the gas covers for a two weeks or so.

Gas can always be added in the office if needed.

Dr. O.