Surgical treatment of retinal detachment in the choroidal colobomas

Seven eyes from seven patients with retinal detachment and choroidal coloboma (with or without optic disc involvement) were treated. The retinal break was always inside the colobomatous area, except in the cases with evidence of peripheral retinal breaks. In order to produce reattachment of the retina, vitrectomy procedures with removal of posterior hyaloid were used. Drainage of subretinal fluid was performed through the break in the area of the coloboma, with simultaneous fluid-air exchange. Previously undetected retinal breaks were identified by inspecting for the presence of schlieren in the colobomatous area during fluid-air exchange. A peripheral scleral buckle was then applied. Argon laser endophotocoagulation was performed, but when the coloboma involved the optic disc, red krypton endophotocoagulation was used. Retinal reattachment was achieved in all cases.