Retinal Displacement After Retinal Detachment SurgeryLIQUIDNCT07027098
Influence of Perfluorocarbon Liquid (LIQUID) During Pars Plana Vitrectomy on Retinal Vessel Displacement in Primary Macula-involving Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
A study testing Perflurocarbon liquid and Without Perflurocarbon liquid in people with Retinal Displacement After Retinal Detachment Surgery, run by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, with an incidence of approximately 10 per 100,000 people. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the main adopted surgical choice. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Retinal Displacement After Retinal Detachment Surgery
- What is being tested?
- Perflurocarbon liquid and Without Perflurocarbon liquid
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 292 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 28 Oct 2025to 1 Oct 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years of age, or older.
- Diagnosis of primary MIRD with posterior vitreous detachment, and fovea off (confirmed with OCT)
- Surgeons' decision that the patient is eligible for using gas as postoperative tamponade.
- The surgeon is confident to proceed with surgery with or without the use of intraoperative PFCL
Who cannot join
- Previous RRD and/or RRD surgery in the study eye
- Decision to use adjunct scleral buckle
- Decision to use silicone oil as tamponade
- Retinal detachment with macula on
- Patients with other retinal pathologies causing permanent structural changes to the retina in the study eye, such as diabetic retinopathy (assessed above background, or any diabetic maculopathy), previous vascular occlusion (artery or vein occlusion), macula dystrophy, among others
- Previous vitreoretinal surgery in the study eye
Show all 14Show fewer
- Inability to come for follow ups up to 3 months
- Inability to take FAF and OCT imaging due to neck stiffness or other medical issue
- Mental incapacity
- Patient is unwilling or unable to follow or comply with all study related procedures or to sign informed consent form.
- Contraindications for PFCL
- Previous enrollment in a clinical trial involving retinal diseases and/or treatments
- Media opacity leading to poor quality retinal images (not including post operative significant cataract. See section 7.11)
- Patient inability to posture following surgery
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United Kingdom1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UY
Julie Dawson, +441603286611, RDOffice@nnuh.nhs.uk
About this study
Official title: Retinal Displacement After Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Macula Involving Retinal Detachment: A Randomised Prospective Study Evaluating the Role of Intraoperative Perfluorocarbon Liquids
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, with an incidence of approximately 10 per 100,000 people. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the main adopted surgical choice. Main outcomes of successful RRD surgery have mainly been represented by anatomical retinal reattachment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Despite successful surgery, patients with mac-off RRD often report postoperative visual complaints of distortion such as metamorphopsia and scotomas in their central visual field, with great variability.
Major advances in retinal imaging including wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) allowed to investigate morphological changes after RRD surgery. The concept of retinal displacement - where the retina has reattached but the exact location has shifted, as evidenced by retinal vessel printing shown on post operative retinal imaging.
Postoperative retinal displacement has been observed to occur with different frequency in relationship to variables including postoperative tamponade, surgical technique, and intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL). The investigators hope to formally study the impact of intraoperative use of PFCL, which is used as an aid during surgery to help flatten and position the retina, on retinal displacement. This will help us better understand the impact of this tool on outcomes both objectively through retinal imaging, and subjectively through visual outcomes including visual acuity and measures of distortion and other visual disturbances.
Read the detailed description
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, resulting from the separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is caused by at least one retinal break and recruitment of intraocular fluid into the subretinal space. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the most widely adopted surgical choice, scleral buckling (SB) and pneumatic retinopexy (PnR).
Significant visual loss is the main complaint of patients with macula-involving RRD (MIRD). Hence, the main outcomes of successful RRD surgery have historically been represented by postoperative anatomical retinal reattachment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). However, despite successful surgery, patients with MIRD often report postoperative visual complaints of distortion such as metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and scotomas in their central visual field, with great variability.
Major advances in retinal imaging contributed to provide a better understanding of postoperative visual complaints after surgery for RRD. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) highlighted drop-out of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) or outer and inner retinal folds in the macula area. However, only more recently, hyperautofluorescent lines, also called Retinal Vessel Printing (RVP), adjacent to the retinal blood vessels, were noted on autofluorescence imaging in patients who underwent RRD surgery. This finding is believed to be secondary to unintentional retinal displacement after RRD surgery and may serve as a surrogate anatomical marker of postoperative metamorphopsia and central scotomas.
Postoperative retinal displacement is potentially influenced by several variables including intraocular tamponade, adopted surgical technique, intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) and postoperative posture. The effect of PFCL on retinal displacement is currently unknown due to lack of RCTs and significant limitations of previous research. Therefore, the aim of this RCT is to investigate the role of intraoperative PFCL on postoperative retinal displacement in patients with MIRD undergoing PPV with immediate postoperative face-down posture.
The investigators aim to evaluate whether intraoperative PFCL affects the incidence and patterns of postoperative retinal displacement. As secondary outcomes, this RCT will also investigate the effect of intraoperative use of PFCL on functional outcomes, e.g. BCVA, metamorphopsia and aniseikonia. All patients participating in the trial will be randomly allocated to having surgery either with or without the use of PFCL, and will be followed up regularly after surgery for up to 6 months.
- Being tested
- Perflurocarbon liquid, Without Perflurocarbon liquid
- Keywords
- Retinal displacement, retinal detachment, Heavy liquid, perfluorocarbon liquids
- Medical subject headings
- Retinal Detachment
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Perflurocarbon liquidProcedure or surgery
Used to facilitate surgery of retinal detachment to stabilise macular during surgery.
Without Perflurocarbon liquidProcedure or surgery
Standard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) without the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) With Perflurocarbon liquid use. | Experimental | Standard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) with the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL) to stabilise macular during surgery and drainage of subretinal fluid. PFCL is then fully removed before the end of surgery. Receives: Procedure: Perflurocarbon liquid |
| Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) Without Perflurocarbon liquid use. | Active comparator | Standard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) without the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL). Receives: Procedure: Without Perflurocarbon liquid |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Retinal Displacement
Number of patients with presence of retinal displacement on post operative retinal imaging (FAF) between groups with PFCL use and without PFCL use.
Measured: 3 months post operation
Secondary outcomes (3)
Best-Corrected Visual Acuity
Average change in visual acuity (BCVA) in groups with PFCL and without PFCL use
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (at discretion of research team, see protocol)
Metamorphopsia
Average M-CHARTS score comparison between groups with PFCL use and without PFCL use.
Measured: 3 months post operation
Quantification of retinal displacement
Retinal displacement distance as measured on retinal imaging (FAF) in millimetres.
Measured: 3 months post operation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2025
- Study start28 Oct 2025
- Primary completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Retinal Displacement After Retinal Detachment SurgeryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This trial is designed as a double-blind parallel arm randomised control trial. The trial is designed to show superiority regarding the use of PFCL intraoperatively as compared to without, when relevant to outcomes such as retinal displacement. It will be double blind because neither the participants nor the researchers assessing the outcomes will know what treatment each participant received; the surgeons providing treatment will unavoidably know this.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 292 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Francesco Sabatino, Principal investigator, Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07027098
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 327806 (129-06-23)
- Acronym
- LIQUID
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Retinal Displacement After Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Macula Involving Retinal Detachment: A Randomised Prospective Study Evaluating the Role of Intraoperative Perfluorocarbon Liquids
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07027098
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LIQUID / 327806 (129-06-23)
- Keywords
- Retinal displacement, retinal detachment, Heavy liquid, perfluorocarbon liquids
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 292 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 28 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, with an incidence of approximately 10 per 100,000 people. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the main adopted surgical choice. Main outcomes of successful RRD surgery have mainly been represented by anatomical retinal reattachment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Despite successful surgery, patients with mac-off RRD often report postoperative visual complaints of distortion such as metamorphopsia and scotomas in their central visual field, with great variability.
Major advances in retinal imaging including wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) allowed to investigate morphological changes after RRD surgery. The concept of retinal displacement - where the retina has reattached but the exact location has shifted, as evidenced by retinal vessel printing shown on post operative retinal imaging.
Postoperative retinal displacement has been observed to occur with different frequency in relationship to variables including postoperative tamponade, surgical technique, and intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL). The investigators hope to formally study the impact of intraoperative use of PFCL, which is used as an aid during surgery to help flatten and position the retina, on retinal displacement. This will help us better understand the impact of this tool on outcomes both objectively through retinal imaging, and subjectively through visual outcomes including visual acuity and measures of distortion and other visual disturbances.
Detailed description
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, resulting from the separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is caused by at least one retinal break and recruitment of intraocular fluid into the subretinal space. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the most widely adopted surgical choice, scleral buckling (SB) and pneumatic retinopexy (PnR).
Significant visual loss is the main complaint of patients with macula-involving RRD (MIRD). Hence, the main outcomes of successful RRD surgery have historically been represented by postoperative anatomical retinal reattachment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). However, despite successful surgery, patients with MIRD often report postoperative visual complaints of distortion such as metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and scotomas in their central visual field, with great variability.
Major advances in retinal imaging contributed to provide a better understanding of postoperative visual complaints after surgery for RRD. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) highlighted drop-out of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) or outer and inner retinal folds in the macula area. However, only more recently, hyperautofluorescent lines, also called Retinal Vessel Printing (RVP), adjacent to the retinal blood vessels, were noted on autofluorescence imaging in patients who underwent RRD surgery. This finding is believed to be secondary to unintentional retinal displacement after RRD surgery and may serve as a surrogate anatomical marker of postoperative metamorphopsia and central scotomas.
Postoperative retinal displacement is potentially influenced by several variables including intraocular tamponade, adopted surgical technique, intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) and postoperative posture. The effect of PFCL on retinal displacement is currently unknown due to lack of RCTs and significant limitations of previous research. Therefore, the aim of this RCT is to investigate the role of intraoperative PFCL on postoperative retinal displacement in patients with MIRD undergoing PPV with immediate postoperative face-down posture.
The investigators aim to evaluate whether intraoperative PFCL affects the incidence and patterns of postoperative retinal displacement. As secondary outcomes, this RCT will also investigate the effect of intraoperative use of PFCL on functional outcomes, e.g. BCVA, metamorphopsia and aniseikonia. All patients participating in the trial will be randomly allocated to having surgery either with or without the use of PFCL, and will be followed up regularly after surgery for up to 6 months.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This trial is designed as a double-blind parallel arm randomised control trial. The trial is designed to show superiority regarding the use of PFCL intraoperatively as compared to without, when relevant to outcomes such as retinal displacement. It will be double blind because neither the participants nor the researchers assessing the outcomes will know what treatment each participant received; the surgeons providing treatment will unavoidably know this.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) With Perflurocarbon liquid use. | Experimental | Procedure: Perflurocarbon liquidStandard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) with the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL) to stabilise macular during surgery and drainage of subretinal fluid. PFCL is then fully removed before the end of surgery. |
| Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) Without Perflurocarbon liquid use. | Active comparator | Procedure: Without Perflurocarbon liquidStandard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) without the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 18 years of age, or older.
- Diagnosis of primary MIRD with posterior vitreous detachment, and fovea off (confirmed with OCT)
- Surgeons' decision that the patient is eligible for using gas as postoperative tamponade.
- The surgeon is confident to proceed with surgery with or without the use of intraoperative PFCL
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Previous RRD and/or RRD surgery in the study eye
- Decision to use adjunct scleral buckle
- Decision to use silicone oil as tamponade
- Retinal detachment with macula on
- Patients with other retinal pathologies causing permanent structural changes to the retina in the study eye, such as diabetic retinopathy (assessed above background, or any diabetic maculopathy), previous vascular occlusion (artery or vein occlusion), macula dystrophy, among others
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Perflurocarbon liquidUsed to facilitate surgery of retinal detachment to stabilise macular during surgery. | Procedure or surgery | Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) With Perflurocarbon liquid use. |
| Without Perflurocarbon liquidStandard retinal detachment surgery (vitrectomy) without the use of Perflurocarbon liquid (PFCL). | Procedure or surgery | Retinal Detachment Surgery (Vitrectomy) Without Perflurocarbon liquid use. |
Primary outcome
Retinal Displacement
Time frame: 3 months post operation
Number of patients with presence of retinal displacement on post operative retinal imaging (FAF) between groups with PFCL use and without PFCL use.
3 secondary outcomes
Best-Corrected Visual Acuity
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (at discretion of research team, see protocol)
Metamorphopsia
Time frame: 3 months post operation
Quantification of retinal displacement
Time frame: 3 months post operation
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Apr 2026.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Francesco Sabatino principal investigator
Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Perflurocarbon liquid and Without Perflurocarbon liquid in people with Retinal Displacement After Retinal Detachment Surgery, run by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 14 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Francesco Sabatino (+441603 286286, francesco.sabatino@nnuh.nhs.uk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Retinal Displacement (time frame: 3 months post operation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Apr 2026.