Abstract: The present invention provides a single high-purity liquid comprising a partially fluorinated ether liquid for use as a long-term tamponade agent. Compositions are directed to liquid tamponade agents consisting essentially of DFPE, or to agents comprising a soluble mixture of a partially fluorinated ether and either a silicone liquid (or oil) or a perfluorocarbon liquid (or any other liquid or oil that is clear, colorless, inert and has a low specific gravity). Partially fluorinated ethers that have a specific gravity between 1.1 and 1.5 are well suited to rectify the deficiencies of silicone and perfluorocarbon liquids when they are used as tamponade agents. The soluble mixtures of the invention can be designed to have a specific gravity so that they do not have buoyancy problems (density greater than water), yet having a specific gravity that is not so high as to damage the posterior retina from mechanical forces (specific gravity less than 1.6).

Abstract: This invention provides a novel fluorinated ether compound represented by the following formula (I), which has a short atmospheric lifetime and which is stable under use conditions. The fluorinated ether compound of the invention is useful as a fluorinated inert medium or the like. Rf(CH2)nO(CH2)nRf ??(I) wherein Rf is a C1-10 fluorinated monovalent saturated organic group, and n is 3 or 4.