[Relaxing retinectomy: anatomic and functional results]

The author analyzed the results of relaxing retinectomy (RR) combined with internal tamponade of the retina by silicone oil in 50 patients. The causes of tractional detachment and shortening of the retina were: proliferative vitretinopathy complicating idiopathic rhegmatogenic detachment of the retina in 25 eyes, proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 12 eyes, post-traumatic proliferation in seven eyes, intraocular inflammation in four eyes and the cicatricial stage of retinopathy of the premature in two eyes. During an observation period of 6-75 months, mean 17 months, the authors recorded complete adherence of the retina in 60%, partial anatomical success with defined retinal detachment and adherent macula in 24% and functional success with visual acuity of 0.02 or better in 66%. The poorest functional results were obtained in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (success in 30%). Functional success declined with the observation period from 66% 6 months after RR to 38% after 36 months following RR. The extent of RR did not have a substantial effect on the anatomical and functional results. Sufficiently extensive RR with internal tamponade of the retina with silicone oil is the operation of choice in complicated retinal detachment where radical membranectomy does not release the retinal traction. Reproliferation after RR were the frequent causes of relapses of retinal detachment and an impediment for removal of silicone oil from the eye.