DisCoVisc substituted for perfluorocarbon liquid stabilizing the detached retina during vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of using DisCoVisc as an alternative to perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) in stabilizing the detached retina during rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery.

Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with RRD underwent the DisCoVisc technique for stabilizing the detached retina. Following intraoperative air-fluid exchange and the aspiration of subretinal fluid, DisCoVisc was applied to seal retinal breaks, thereby stabilizing the detached retina. Subsequent removal of the peripheral and basal vitreous was then performed. Intraoperative vitrectomy duration, retinal reattachment rate, postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed.

Results: Retinal reattachment was achieved in 28 eyes (28/30, 93.3%). The base of the vitreous was removed with a mean time of 10.17±2.94 min, and the total vitrectomy time was 22.93±4.97 min. At the last follow-up, the BCVA was 0.74±0.70 LogMAR, showing a significant improvement over the preoperative value of 1.44±1.25 LogMAR (Z=2.700, P=0.007). On the first postoperative day, the IOP was measured at 25.71±12.41 mmHg, exhibiting a statistically significant elevation compared to the preoperative IOP of 13.94±5.23 mmHg (P=0.000). There was no statistical difference in IOP at the last follow-up 14.01±2.68 mmHg compared to the preoperative IOP of 13.94±5.23 mmHg (P = 0.923). One patient developed macular hole after the operation, and there were no obvious complications during the operation.

Conclusions: DisCoVisc can effectively stabilize the detached retina during vitrectomy for RRD. Most significantly, it eliminated the risk of subfoveal PFCL residue-related complications.