The role of induced choroidal retinal adhesion in retinal detachment surgery.

The use of induced adhesion in retinal and vitreous surgery is considered. A follow-up report on a series of cases of retinal detachment treated with buckling only shows that there is a risk of late re-detachment from the original hole as the buckle height diminishes. Cryotherapy is therefore necessary to prevent redetachment but as it is not necessary for reattachment it is reasonable to confine its application to the immediate vicinity of the retinal hole. An adhesion is advised in most cases of retinal detachment treated by vitrectomy, exceptions being small holes at the posterior pole.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Pars plana vitrectomy for retinal detachment with unseen retinal holes

A study was made of a consecutive series of 47 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated by pars plana vitrectomy in which no holes were identified preoperatively. The view of the fundus during preoperative examination varied from being totally clear to completely obscured by media opacities. The role of pars plana vitrectomy in finding retinal holes peroperatively is considered. The incidence of discovering holes and the locations of those found at the time of surgery are presented. The significance of these findings is discussed. Where the preoperative view was good and the extent of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) did not exceed grade C2, retinal reattachment was achieved in 75% of the cases. A review made of a similar group of patients treated with conventional retinal buckling before the introduction of pars plana vitrectomy revealed that successful retinal reattachment was achieved in 70% of cases. The study concludes that pars plana vitrectomy, while being necessary for cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment when the view of the retina is obscured, will not always reveal the presence of a retinal break. If the preoperative view of the retina was good and the extent of PVR did not exceed grade C2, pars plana vitrectomy did not seem to offer obvious advantages over conventional buckling procedures.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment uncomplicated by advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy

A consecutive series of 114 eyes (112 patients) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not complicated by severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy is presented (follow up 1 to 4 years; mean 19 months). The indications for vitrectomy fell into two main groups: (1) where the retinal view was poor and vitrectomy was required to clear media opacities to allow identification of retinal breaks (n = 62); and (2) where technically difficult breaks existed and vitrectomy with internal tamponade was used to relieve vitreoretinal traction and facilitate retinal break closure (n = 44). In some of these cases the need for scleral buckling was eliminated. A smaller third group (n = 8) existed where the position of the break(s) was uncertain in the presence of an adequate view. The success rate with one procedure was 74% and with further surgery retinal reattachment; was achieved in 92%. At 6 months after further surgery, beyond which interval no new failures were encountered, best corrected visual acuity was improved in 92 eyes (81%), unchanged in 14 (12%), and worse in eight (7%). We conclude that pars plana vitrectomy is an effective method for treatment of selected cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy.link_to_OA_fulltex

The treatment of bullous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

We describe the results of a consecutive series of 97 cases of bullous superior retinal detachment treated by conventional surgery. The retinal detachments were characterized by either a single retinal break or multiple retinal breaks confined within 1 clock hour and no proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The surgery involved sequential drainage of subretinal fluid, injection of air, cryotherapy and the application of local explant. All cases would otherwise be suitable for pneumatic retinopexy. The anatomical success rate was 85.5% with a single operation and 97% with further procedures. We report on the complications encountered and appraise the advantages and disadvantages of this operation. Forty-five of the 97 cases had detachment of the macula for less than 2 weeks, and 35 of the 45 (80%) achieved a visual acuity of 6/18 or better. These visual results challenge the assertion that better visual outcome might be attained with pneumatic retinopexy.link_to_subscribed_fulltex