Vitrectomy, scleral buckling, and peripheral diathermy treatment for severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Transvitreal diathermy was combined with vitrectomy, scleral buckling, and silicone oil injection to treat 28 eyes with severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy and fore-shortened peripheral retina. A special gold tip on the diathermy probe prevented adhesions to the retina. The probe can be used for coaxial bipolar diathermy or for internal-external bipolar diathermy when combined with an electrode on the external scleral surface. Nineteen (68%) of 28 eyes treated with these methods achieved anatomic success and 10 eyes obtained final visual acuity ranging from 5/200 to 20/70.