Pneumatic retinopexy for the treatment of giant retinal dialyses

We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of pneumatic retinopexy as an alternative technique for retinal detachment repair in patients with retinal dialyses that were greater than three clock hours in size and located in the superior eight clock hours of the retina.

We reviewed four consecutive cases of retinal detachment secondary to large superior retinal dialyses, extending at least three clock hours, that were successfully treated with pneumatic retinopexy.

Follow-up ranged from nine to 28 months. All patients had postoperative corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Within two years, one patient was noted to have a new break in the inferior retina not contiguous with the original dialysis that was successfully repaired with laser photocoagulation.

Pneumatic retinopexy offers a less invasive alternative to scleral buckling surgery in certain cases of superior retinal dialyses.