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Laser effective method of retinopexy after scleral buckle
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ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Postoperative laser coagulation is a feasible alternative method of retinopexy after scleral buckling surgery, according to a study here. The procedure resulted in encouraging anatomical results and a low incidence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, researchers said.
Jan Van Meurs, MD, and colleagues at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital conducted a prospective feasibility study of consecutive patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated by scleral buckling surgery and postoperative laser coagulation. Minimum follow-up was 6 months.
Of 124 eyes in 123 patients, 76% were phakic; the rest were pseudophakic. Fifty percent of eyes had one horseshoe tear, 15% had multiple tears, 30% had round breaks and 5% had no identifiable break. Ten percent of patients presented with vitreous hemorrhage, and 25% presented with retina detached in three or four quadrants. Six patients had proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
The planned postop laser coagulation occurred 1 day to 10 weeks after the initial buckling surgery. Buckling material was removed in three patients without redetachment.
Twelve patients required a postoperative gas injection, five patients received an additional buckle and five patients underwent vitrectomy (four because of PVR). In all patients the retina was fully reattached at the end of follow-up.
The study is published in the November issue of Retina.