BACKGROUND: The partially fluorinated alkanes perfluorohexyloctane (F(6)H(8)) and perfluorobutylbutane (O(44 V)) were investigated as wash out solutions after routine silicone oil removal. METHODS: Eleven eyes were rinsed twice with F(6)H(8) immediately after passive silicone oil removal. The silicone oil concentration in both F(6)H(8) samples was measured quantitatively using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). Nine eyes were rinsed twice with O(44 V) immediately after passive silicone oil removal. The silicone oil concentration in both O(44 V) samples was measured quantitatively using OES (n=5) and/or infrared spectroscopy (IR) (n=8). RESULTS: The mean concentration in the first F(6)H(8) sample was 103.0 ppm, and in the second sample 63.5 ppm using OES. The mean concentration in the first O(44 V) sample was 135.6 ppm, and in the second O(44 V) sample 68.0 ppm using OES. CONCLUSION: Since the solubility of silicone oil in F(6)H(8) or O(44 V) is dependent on the temperature and mixture ratio, their use as a routine washout after silicone oil removal in patients without severe emulsification is inefficient. The degree of washout is strongly influenced by surface phenomena and adhesion forces.
BACKGROUND: The partially fluorinated alkanesperfluorohexyloctane (F(6)H(8)) and perfluorobutylbutane (O(44 V)) were investigated as wash out solutions after routine silicone oil removal. METHODS: Eleven eyes were rinsed twice with F(6)H(8) immediately after passive silicone oil removal. The silicone oil concentration in both F(6)H(8) samples was measured quantitatively using optical emission spectroscopy (OES). Nine eyes were rinsed twice with O(44 V) immediately after passive silicone oil removal. The silicone oil concentration in both O(44 V) samples was measured quantitatively using OES (n=5) and/or infrared spectroscopy (IR) (n=8). RESULTS: The mean concentration in the first F(6)H(8) sample was 103.0 ppm, and in the second sample 63.5 ppm using OES. The mean concentration in the first O(44 V) sample was 135.6 ppm, and in the second O(44 V) sample 68.0 ppm using OES. CONCLUSION: Since the solubility of silicone oil in F(6)H(8) or O(44 V) is dependent on the temperature and mixture ratio, their use as a routine washout after silicone oil removal in patients without severe emulsification is inefficient. The degree of washout is strongly influenced by surface phenomena and adhesion forces.