Intravitreal C3F8 versus SF6: effects on corneal tomography parameters and intraocular pressure in vitreomacular traction treatment.

Purpose: Investigate the effect of intravitreally administered C3F8 and SF6 expansile gases on corneal tomographic parameters and intraocular pressure (IOP) for the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT) with pneumatic vitreolysis (PV).

Methods: Patients who underwent intravitreal C3F8 or SF6 injection for VMT treatment were assessed. Each eye underwent a complete ophthalmic examination pre-operation and 1 h, 6 h, 24 h post-operation, including IOP assessment and corneal tomographic analysis with Pentacam.

Results: In both groups, 30 eyes were included in study. Mean IOP in C3F8 group was 16.2 ± 2.7 mmHg pre-operation, 28.5 ± 14.1 mmHg at 6 h and 24.0 ± 2.5 mmHg at 24 h post-operation. Mean IOP in SF6 group was 16.1 ± 3.3 mmHg pre-operation, 29.6 ± 13.1 mmHg at 6 h and 16.7 ± 2.4 mmHg at 24 h post-operation. Increase in IOP was statistically significant at 6 and 24 h in the C3F8 group, whereas the statistically significant increase was only at 6 h in the SF6 group(p < 0.05). Anterior chamber angle showed statistically significant narrowing at 6 and 24 h in the C3F8 group, while statistically significant narrowing was observed only at 6 h in the SF6 group(p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant increase in pachymetry measurements at apex and thinnest location, and corneal volume values at post-operative 1 and 6 h in both groups compared to pre-operative values(p < 0.05).

Conclusion: PV with SF6 should be preferred for VMT treatment in angle closure glaucoma, angle closure suspect and advanced glaucoma patients, since the increase in IOP due to angle narrowing in the C3F8 group remained at 24 h.