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Annotated abstract

Macular hole closure following spontaneous resolution of inadvertently retained perfluorocarbon droplet at fovea

bmjcr · 2026-06-15 · canonical JSON source

15 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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A woman in her early 50s presented with a gradual, progressive diminution of vision in her right eye (oculus dexter, OD) for the past 5 months. Ocular examination of OD revealed a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/400, nuclear sclerosis cataract and a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH). The left eye was unremarkable. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of OD confirmed the presence of a large FTMH with a base diameter of 990 µm and a minimum diameter of 634 µm ( figure 1A). Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique and 12% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade was planned for the management of the large FTMH. Due to intraoperative difficulty in repositioning the ILM flaps over the MH, assistance of perfluoro-n-octane (perfluorocarbon liquid; PFCL) was taken. PFCL was injected slowly through a valved cannula system to maintain a single, large bubble starting over the optic disc area. The tip of the injecting cannula was kept submerged within the large PFCL bubble. Despite the assistance from the PFCL bubble, the ILM flap got dislodged during flap manoeuvring and a conventional complete ILM peel was performed. During removal of the PFCL bubble, the globe was tilted in such a way that the bubble was placed over the optic disc area and the nasal retina. Subsequently, the tip of the extrusion cannula gradually aspirated the entire PFCL bubble. Following PFCL removal, the entire vitreous cavity was inspected to rule out any residual PFCL globules. The early postoperative examinations, including fundus on day 1 and day 7, were unremarkable, although the fundus view was hazy due to a cataractous lens and a C3F8 gas-filled globe. Fundus evaluation at 4 weeks revealed a small shiny reflex at the base of the FTMH (figure 1B). SD-OCT confirmed the presence of a PFCL droplet at the fovea and non-closure of the FTMH (figure 1C). She was advised of a surgical removal of the PFCL droplet, but she refused the procedure at that time. Four months later, she underwent an uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in the OD. Re-evaluation of the fundus at 4 weeks after cataract surgery showed spontaneous resolution of the PFCL droplet (figure 1D), although the FTMH did not close completely on SD-OCT (figure 1E). 3 months after cataract surgery, SD-OCT (figure 1F) showed complete type-1 closure of the FTMH (closure of the FTMH with normal foveal contour and no deficit in the neurosensory retinal layers) and near complete restoration of subfoveal external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone. Her BCVA improved to 20/80, and metamorphopsia decreased in the OD.