Use of perfluorocarbon liquid in the repair of retinoschisis retinal detachments

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of perfluorocarbon liquid in the repair of retinoschisis-associated retinal detachments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients with either degenerative or juvenile X-linked retinoschisis had rhegmatogenous retinal detachments that were repaired with the use of perfluorocarbon liquid during vitrectomy. The patients' ages ranged from 17 to 78 years and the postoperative follow-up was at least 6 months. RESULTS: All of the patients had complete anatomic repair of the retinoschisis-associated retinal detachments. The postoperative visual acuity was 20/200 or better in all of the patients and 20/40 or better in half of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of perfluorocarbon liquid is an effective adjunct in the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments associated with degenerative and juvenile X-linked retinoschisis.