Pneumoretinopexy in the treatment of retinal detachment with macular hole

Nine eyes of nine patients affected by retinal detachment with macular hole were treated with pneumoretinopexy and postoperative positioning. All the eyes were myopic (mean 13.3 d., sd 3.3), two were amblyopic and one was aphakic. The operative technique included eye softening and intravitreal SF6 gas injection only. Barrage laser photocoagulation was carried out after retinal reattachment. In seven eyes (77.8%) the retina reattached in a mean of three days and the visual acuity improved. No recurrences were observed after a mean of 11.6 months. No severe complications occurred. Vitreous flare was present in 44% and increase of floaters in 55% of the eyes. We believe that pneumoretinopexy can be employed as the first treatment in case of myopic retinal detachment with macular hole.