Intravitreal expanding gas bubble. A morphologic study in the rabbit eye.

The morphologic changes induced by an expanding bubble of perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas in the vitreous body have been studied in the rabbit eye by dissecting microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Initial expansion of the gas displaces water from the vitreous; the remaining vitreous forms a compressed layer on the retinal surface. Subsequent absorption and contraction of the gas bubble is associated with gradual detachment of the compressed vitreous from the retina. Eventually, vitreous detachment is complete, except for residual attachments posteriorly to the medullary rays and anteriorly to the ciliary processes. The plane of vitreous separation is predominantly at the anatomic vitreoretinal junction, although scattered islands of outer cortical vitreous are found on the surface of the retina.