Removal of Heavy Silicone Oil Adherent to the Retina with PFCL

Rarely heavy silicone oil is so adherent to the retina that it does not coalesce during aspiration. It is of course nerve racking to aspirate with high suction very close to the retina and still not be able to completely remove the oil. The remedy is to add liquid perfluorocarbon to the layer of adherent silicone oil. The adhesion to PFCL is much stronger than to the adhesion to the retina. One must add as much PFCL into the eye that all parts of the retina in contact with oil are in contact with PFCL as well. The oil will immediately detach from the retina and float on the surface of the PFCL bubble where it can be easily aspirated via a flute needle.