[Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: curative treatment]

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), which causes contractile fibrocellular membranes that may prevent retinal reattachment, remains one of the most severe complications of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD), with an incidence of 5-11%, and one of the most frequent causes of surgical failure (50-75%). Its severity is due to the complexity of the surgery required to treat patients, and to its uncertain anatomic and functional prognosis. Curative treatment of PVR includes vitrectomy, sometimes associated with phacoemulsification or scleral buckling; systematic peeling of epiretinal membranes, occasionally retinectomy; and systematic retinopexy by endolaser photocoagulation. The current preferred internal tamponade is silicone oil. Silicone oils of various densities are undergoing comparative studies.