Retinal breaks after photocoagulation of proliferative sickle cell retinopathy

Retinal breaks developed in four eyes of four patients with hemoglobin SC disease and advanced proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSR) after argon laser photocoagulation of feeder vessels. These cases represented 8.7% of the 46 eyes with PSR treated with the argon laser at our institution in 1977 and 1978. In three patients, the retinal breaks were immediately adjacent to the site of photocoagulation. A scleral buckling procedure was necessary in only one of the four eyes; the breaks were successfully managed in the other three cases by encirclement with further laser treatment. None of the four eyes lost vision. In patients with vitreous traction in association with seafan neovascularization, argon laser photocoagulation may result in retinal breaks and retinal detachment.