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Immediate Release of Vitreomacular Traction After Pneumatic Vitreolysis Followed by the Drinking Bird Technique
Neesurg Mehta1, Lalita Gupta2, Michael Jansen1
1Department of Ophthalmology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, NY, USA.
Purpose:
To report a case of release of vitreomacular traction (VMT) in a patient with a full thickness macular hole (FTMH) immediately following pneumatic vitreolysis (PV) combined with head bobbing movements.
Methods:
A 71-year-old female with VMT and an FTMH presented with blurred vision for 2 months to the level of 20/400. At her 1-month follow-up visit, PV was performed using C3F8 gas and she was instructed to perform the drinking bird technique for ten minutes.
Results:
Optical coherence tomography performed ten minutes after PV with head bobbing showed VMT release and a smaller FTMH. Visual acuity improved to 20/150 immediately afterwards and to 20/80 two months later.
Conclusions:
Using the drinking bird technique for a continuous period of time immediately following PV may encourage rapid VMT release. PV may be a feasible option for patients with VMT and FTMH who do not want surgery.
