Use of Internal Limiting Membrane Autograft in Primary Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

During a pars plana vitrectomy, an unplanned retinotomy in the raphe was performed in a 55-year-old female patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Since diathermy and laser therapy were not available at that moment, it was decided to peel off a small graft of the internal limiting membrane adjacent to the retinotomy site which had been previously stained with Brilliant Blue G. The graft was displaced under perfluorocarbon fluids and placed inside the retinotomy. Three weeks after surgery, the apparent closure of the retinotomy was observed clinically.