The use of Densiron-68™ as a perioperative surgical tool.

Agents such as Densiron-68™, with specific gravity slightly greater than that of water (1.06 g/cm(3)), have been developed to tamponade the inferior retina following retinal detachment repair procedures. The minimal force that would result from the sinking of such an agent in balanced saline solution is not considered sufficient to permit the use of Densiron-68™ as a surgical tool to displace subretinal fluid and stabilise the retina perioperatively. We report five cases where Densiron-68™ was instilled directly into a saline-filled eye with an unstable retinal detachment. The detachment was reduced and the Densiron-68™ left in situ. Four cases involved giant retinal tears and the fifth an inferior retinal detachment with no breaks identified. The injection of Densiron-68™ as a single manoeuvre to flatten the retina and to simultaneously provide postoperative tamponade was successfully used in these five patients. Six months after removal of Densiron-68™ the retina remained flat in all five cases. This previously unfamiliar technique provides an additional surgical option to gain control in cases of complicated retinal detachment with a mobile retina, especially if inferior tamponade is required.