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Published on: September 13, 2016
Inferior sclerotomies without subretinal fluid drainage for exudative retinal detachment in diffuse retinal pigment
M S Figueroa1, C Arruabarrena, M Sales-Sanz
1Ophthalmology Division, Vitreoretinal Department, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital and Alcalà de Henares University, Madrid - Spain.
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of inferior sutureless sclerotomies without subretinal fluid drainage for the treatment of bullous exudative retinal detachment secondary to diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy.
Methods:
A retrospective interventional case series of eyes treated with two inferior postequatorial full-thickness sclerotomies without subretinal fluid drainage. Patients were placed in an upright position 24 hours after surgery. Main outcomes were visual acuity and retinal reattachment rate.
Results:
Three eyes with recent diagnoses of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy and bullous inferior retinal detachment were included in the study. In all cases, a very thick sclera was evident during surgery. The day after surgery the retina was completely attached in the three eyes. Preoperative visual acuity was light perception, 20/200, and counting fingers. After surgery, visual acuity improved to 20/200, 20/70, and 20/50, respectively. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred.
Conclusions:
The performance of inferior sutureless sclerotomies without a draining procedure in cases of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy with inferior bullous retinal detachment is a simple and effective technique. It achieves retinal reattachment the day after surgery, allowing laser photocoagulation of the leaking lesions disclosed in fluorescein angiography.
