Abstract
Recent developments in vitreoretinal surgery have increased the need for suitable vitreous substitutes. A successful substitute should maintain all the physical and biochemical properties of the original vitreous, be easy to manipulate, and be long lasting. Substitutes can be gaseous or liquid, both of which have associated advantages and disadvantages related to their physical properties and use. Furthermore, new surgical techniques with smaller vitreoretinal instruments have driven the use of more viscous substitutes. In this review, we analyze and discuss the most frequently used vitreous substitutes and look ahead to future alternatives. We classify these compounds based on their composition and structure, discuss their clinical use with respect to their associated advantages and disadvantages, and analyze how new vitreoretinal surgical techniques have modified their use.
Highlights
The vitreous body is a clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina
We describe the positive and negative aspects of current and experimental substitutes and evaluate their use in new surgical techniques to repair retinal detachment
Heavy silicone oil is a tamponade agent formed from a mixture of Silicone Oil (SO) and partially fluorinated octane (PFA) that is heavier than water
Summary
The vitreous body is a clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina. It constitutes approximately 80% of the volume of the entire eye [1]. The development of new surgical techniques and intravitreous-release drugs has led to a need for improved vitreous substitutes. The ideal vitreous substitute has all the qualities of the vitreous body (transparency, biocompatibility, volume retention, elasticity, and durability) and lacks negative characteristics such as ageing liquefaction and biodegradation. Intensive research is underway to develop new products that resemble the vitreous as closely as possible. We describe the positive and negative aspects of current and experimental substitutes and evaluate their use in new surgical techniques to repair retinal detachment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
