Air pump for retinal detachment with macular hole

From 1984 to 1992, 128 eyes with substantial retinal detachment due to macular hole underwent vitrectomy at the Ideta Eye Hospital. In the first 76 eyes treated, air was injected by syringe after removal of the vitreous (group A); in the subsequent 52 eyes, air was injected by a pump while subretinal fluid was aspirated through the macular hole (group B). The rates of retinal reattachment after the first surgery were 63.2% in group A and 82.7% in group B (P < .05). Thus, using the air pump was more effective than air injection.