Nitrous oxide may be a hazard after retinal surgery

Patients who have had surgery for retinal detachment in which intraocular gases have been used should not be given anaesthetics that include nitrous oxide for some months afterwards. Yang et al (p 532) describe a patient who was given general anaesthesia with nitrous oxide shortly after surgery for retinal detachment and lost the sight in his eye as a result. The intraocular gases used as tamponading agents in vitreoretinal surgery may persist in the eye for up to three months. Nitrous oxide causes the gas bubble to expand, dramatically increasing the intraocular pressure and causing ischaemic retinal damage.

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