Preoperative laser photocoagulation to mark tiny retinal breaks in eyes with retinal detachment

We used preoperative argon laser photocoagulation to create a white intraretinal color change to mark the location of a tiny retinal break in an aphakic eye with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The break was visible only by fundus biomicroscopy with a three-mirror contact lens and could not be seen by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Intraretinal uptake of laser energy is accomplished with a small spot size and moderate energy levels. This technique facilitates rapid intraoperative identification and localization of small retinal breaks that are otherwise difficult to visualize.