Risk factors for elevated intraocular pressure after the use of intraocular gases in vitreoretinal surgery.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the contribution of multiple factors, including gas type and concentration, to postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation following vitreoretinal surgery with intraocular gas.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
One hundred seventy-one eyes of 134 patients were retrospectively investigated after vitreoretinal surgery using air, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) (10%-30%), or perfluoropropane (C3F8) (5%-35%).


RESULTS
IOPs greater than 25 mm Hg occurred in 74 of 171 eyes (43%). Elevated IOP was associated with increasing patient age (P < .001), expansile gas concentrations (P < .001), use of C3F8 (P = .01), and circumferential scleral buckles (P = .04). Most IOP elevations (65 eyes, 88%) occurred within 24 hours and responded to aqueous suppression within 24 to 72 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Transient IOP elevation is common following vitreoretinal surgery. Although it is responsive to treatment, it may pose a risk to some eyes. Prophylactic treatment should be considered in high-risk eyes.