Prophylactic argon laser photocoagulation in retinal detachment fellow eyes

Over a two-year period (1975-76) 329 patients were operated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. 301 patients had unilateral detachment and in 62 of these prophylactic photocoagulation with argon laser in the fellow eye was performed. During the observation time one of these (1.6%) and 7 untreated (2.9%) fellow eyes developed retinal detachment. The indication for prophylactic photocoagulation of fellow eyes and the results are discussed.