Effect of perfluoropropane (C₃F₈ ) versus sulfurhexafluoride (SF₆) tamponades on the retinal microvasculature after macular hole surgery

Purpose: To determine the effects of C3F8 and SF6 gasses by using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with surgically closed idiopathic full-thickness macular holes (FTMH).Methods: A prospective, comparative study, in which 38 eyes of 38 patients with an idiopathic FTMH were studied. Twenty patients were randomized to the C3F8 group and 18 patients to the SF6 group. All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling with 14 % C3F8 or 20 % SF6 gasses. The superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel densities (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in SCP, the choriocapillaris flow area; and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) were examined at preoperative and postoperative first- and third-month controls using OCTA.Results: When the changes in the FAZ, SFCT, SCP and DCP VDs were compared, no significant differences were found between the groups (p>0.05 for all). It was determined that the 1-mm radius flow area increases in the C3F8 group at the first and third months after the surgery were significantly higher than in the SF6 group (p<0.05). A significant gain was observed in the BCVA values compared to their preoperative values for both groups; however any differences between the C3F8 and SF6 groups in terms of BCVA were not detected in this study.Conclusion: This is the first report to compare the effects of C3F8 and SF6 gasses on idiopathic FTMH surgery by using OCTA. C3F8 and SF6 gasses may have similar effect on the remodeling process of vascular tissues.