[Idiopathic giant retinal tears: treatment with vitrectomy and temporary silicone oil tamponade]
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Published on: June 14, 2021
A D Kapetanios1, G Donati, C J Pournaras
1Clinique d'Ophtalmologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève.
Purpose:
Vitrectomy with intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids facilitates the treatment of giant retinal tears and permits the reattachment of the retina. This surgical technique maximizes the anatomic results with decreasing of failures and complications associated with the extraocular surgical approach.
Material:
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Methods:
Fourteen patients were operated on for idiopathic giant retinal tears without proliferative vitreoretinopathy. All patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy, unfolding of the giant retinal tears by perfluoro-n-octane, endophotocoagulation, cryoapplication and temporary silicone oil tamponade (ablation after 2 months). Visual acuity, anterior segment examination and fundus examination with a contact lens were performed preoperatively, followed by a control one week later, as well as monthly for 6 months and after that every 3 months postoperatively.
Results:
Visual acuity at the end of the follow-up (mean 22 months) was increased by 3 lines or more in all cases but one. Postoperatively the retina was reattached in all of the cases. A recurrence of localized retinal detachment secondary to a focal proliferative vitreoretinopathy was observed in one case. Cataract formation (80% of the cases) and epiretinal macular membranes (50% of the cases) were the most frequent complications.
Conclusion:
The treatment of idiopathic giant retinal tears with vitrectomy and temporary silicone oil tamponade maximizes the functional results and permits the definitive reattachment of the retina in detriment of the classic complications of vitrectomy.
