The perfluorocarbon gases in the treatment of retinal detachment.

Four straight chain perfluorocarbon gases that had been studied in animals were tried in 30 patients. The larger volumes injected into patients made for extended disappearance times. Two milliliters of CF4 diminished to half volume in six days and had a total disappearance time of 16 days; 0.8 ml of C2F6 diminished to half volume in 10 days and had a disappearance time of 40 days; 1 ml of C3F8 diminished to half volume in 35 days and disappeared in 70 days; 0.6 ml of C4F10 diminished to half volume in 45 days and disappeared in 120 days. The expansion potential was estimated to be the same as measured in the animal model.