Abstract
Purpose
To study vitreous cavity humidity during fluid–air exchange in pars plana vitrectomy.
Methods
Intraocular humidity in the vitreous cavity was recorded for 2 min in six artificial eyes, six enucleated pig eyes, and ten patient eyes, after the eyes had been filled with either humidified air (75% humidity) or dry air (8% humidity).
Results
In artificial eyes the humidity levelled off at a value that was approximately equal to the humidity of the infused air, i.e., a mean of 71.9% when humidified air was used and a mean of 14.4% when dry air was used. In enucleated pig eyes humidity increased slightly with humidified air and remained stable with dry air. In patients intraocular humidity increased to over 90%, regardless of whether humidified or dry air was used.
Conclusion
In the living eye, dry air deprives the retinal tissue of humidity, which is lost into the vitreous cavity. This effect can be reduced by using humidified air.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boldt HC, Munden PM, Folk JC, Mehaffey MG (1996) Visual field defects after macular hole surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 122:371–381
Brubaker RF (1991) Flow of aqueous humor in humans (The Friedenwald Lecture). Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32:3145–3166
Cullinane AB, Cleary PE (2000) Prevention of visual field defects after macular hole surgery. Br J Ophthalmol 84:372–377
Ezra E, Arden GB, Riordan-Eva P, Aylward GW, Gregor ZJ (1996) Visual field loss following vitrectomy for stage 2 and 3 macular holes. Br J Ophthalmol 80:519–525
Gass CA, Haritoglou C, Messmer EM, Schaumberger M, Kampik A (2001) Peripheral visual field defects after macular hole surgery: a complication with decreasing incidence. Br J Ophthalmol 85:549–551
Hasumura T, Yonemura N, Hirata A, Murata Y, Negi A (2000) Retinal damage by air infusion during vitrectomy in rabbit eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:4300–4304
Hirata A, Yonemura N, Hasumura T, Murata Y, Negi A (2000) Effect of infusion air pressure on visual field defects after macular hole surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 130:611–616
Hutton WL, Fuller DG, Snyder WB, Fellman RL, Swanson WH (1996) Visual field defects after macular hole surgery. Ophthalmology 103:2152–2159
Kerrison JB, Haller JA, Elman M, Miller NR (1996) Visual field loss following vitreous surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 114:564–569
Kokame GT (2000) Visual field defects after vitrectomy with fluid–air exchange. Am J Ophthalmol 130:653–654
Kokame GT (2001) Visual field defects after vitrectomy with fluid–air exchange. Br J Ophthalmol 85:121–123
Lee YW, Kwok AKH, Lan DSC (2000) Prevention of visual field defects after macular hole surgery. Br J Ophthalmol 84:1439–1441
Malinowski SM, Pesin SR (1997) Visual field loss caused by retinal vascular occlusion after vitrectomy surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 123:707–708
Melberg NS, Thomas MA (1995) Visual field loss after pars plana vitrectomy with air/fluid exchange. Am J Ophthalmol 120:386–388
Oh KT, Boldt HC, Maturi RK, Folk JC, Kardon RH (2000) Evaluation of patients with visual field defects following macular hole surgery using multifocal electroretinography. Retina 20:238–243
Ohji M, Nao-i N, Saito Y, Hayashi A, Tano Y (1999) Prevention of visual field defect after macular hole surgery by passing air used for fluid–air exchange through water. Am J Ophthalmol 127:62–66
Paques M, Massin P, Santiago PY, Spielmann AC, Gaudric A (1997) Visual field loss after vitrectomy for full thickness macular holes. Am J Ophthalmol 124:88–94
Pendergast SD, McCuen BW II (1996) Visual field loss after macular hole surgery. Ophthalmology 103:1069–1077
Vogel H, Gerthsen C (1997) Gerthsen Physik, vol. 19. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 110–114
Williams JM, Jacobson DM (1997) Visual field loss after vitreous surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 115:434–435
Welch JC (1997) Dehydration injury as a possible cause of visual field defect after pars plana vitrectomy for macular hole. Am J Ophthalmol 124:698–699
Yonemura N, Hirata A, Hasumura T, Negi A (2001) Fundus changes corresponding to visual defects after vitrectomy for macular hole. Ophthalmology 108:1638–1643
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The authors have no proprietary interest in any part of the study
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eter, N., Brinken, R., Garbe, S. et al. Intraocular humidity immediately after fluid–air exchange in pars plana vitrectomy. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 305–308 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1168-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1168-z