Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in angiomatosis retinae

Three patients with von Hippel tumors of the retina developed rhegmatogenous retinal detachments caused by surface traction on the angioma. The break in each case was located at the posterior base of the angioma, between the afferent and efferent vessels. Conventional scleral buckling surgery with cryotherapy and a silicone episcleral sponge successfully reattached the retina in all three cases.