Medicine. Perfluorocarbons are commonly used in eye surgery as temporary replacements of the vitreous humor in retinal detachment surgery. The length of the perfluorated carbon chain determines the physical properties of a particular perfluorocarbon.erfluorocarbons (PFCs) are compounds derived from hydrocarbons by replacement of hydrogen atoms by fluorine atoms. PFCs are made up of atoms of carbon, fluorine, and/or sulfur.