Abstract

Background/aim: As no single tamponade agent yet fulfils all the requirements of a long term inferior tamponade, attempts have been made to mix tamponade materials. This study investigated perfluorohexyloctane (F₆H₈) and silicone oil solutions designed to take advantage of the high specific gravity and interfacial tension of the F₆H₈ and the high viscosity of silicone oil.

Methods: Solutions of three different densities were examined (1.01, 1.03 and 1.06 g/cm³) inside transparent chambers made of surface modified poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA).

Results: Compared to F₆H₈, the solutions had poorer contact with hydrophilic surface of the chambers. The higher the specific gravity of the solution, the better was the contact. The solution with a specific gravity 1.01 g/cm³ is probably of no use clinically.

Conclusion: The model eye chamber made of surface modified PMMA is an efficient way of screening and choosing solutions with promising physical properties. Solutions of silicone oil with F₆H₈ in other proportions or with other semifluorinated alkanes may be of interest.