Intravitreous air injection and the Custodis procedure

Occasional failure follows any form of retinal detachment surgery. Most of these persistent detachments are due to inadequate closure of a known retinal tear by scleral buckling. Avoidance of major reconstructive surgery may be accomplished by the judicious application of an intravitreous air injection under local anesthesia at bedside. Although technically precise, this singular maneuver was found safe and reliable. Its use is suggested as an alternative to classical reoperative procedures.