Air versus sulfur hexafluoride gas tamponade in vitrectomy for uncomplicated retinal detachment with inferior breaks

To compare surgical outcomes of filtered air and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as an internal tamponade in patients undergoing primary 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with inferior breaks.Patients with uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with inferior breaks (between 4 and 8 o'clock positions) who were undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy were enrolled. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy and complete drainage of subretinal fluid, followed by filtered air or 20% SF6 tamponade. The main outcome measures included single-surgery anatomical success rates and final visual recovery.Overall, 116 eyes of 116 patients (81 men and 35 women with a mean age of 55.2 years) were assessed. Air was used in 52 eyes (air group) and gas in 64 eyes (gas group). Single-surgery anatomical success was achieved in 50 (96.2%) and 60 (93.8%) eyes in the air and gas groups, respectively (P = 0.69), and final anatomical success was achieved in all eyes. The mean final Snellen visual acuity was similar in the air (20/23) and gas groups (20/21; P = 0.13).No significant differences were observed in single-surgery anatomical success rates and final visual recovery when comparing air with SF6 gas tamponade in pars plana vitrectomy for primary uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with inferior breaks.