What is the purpose of the gas bubble?
Gas (and silicone oil) bubbles act via their surface tension to prevent the aqueous humor or saline solution from flowing through defects in the retina increasing the detachment. In other words, gas or oil is used to restore the pressure difference that is normally present across the retina. Either a gas or silicone oil bubble must be used if the viteous is removed to repair retinal detachment because aqueous humor or saline solution readily flows through retinal defects. A gas bubble will be replaced by aqueous humor over a period of one to three weeks or more as the bubble absorbs. Gas bubbles (and silicone oil) float in the eye fluids and therefore migrate to the highest part of the eye. If the patient lies on his back, the gas bubble will come to the front of the eye, and will cause a cataract if the human lens is present. If the bubble is not on the trouble, it will not be effective in repairing the retinal detachment. If the patient lies with his right side down, the bubble will
