Purpose: In selected cases of retinal detachment complicated by advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy, despite vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade, we observe reproliferations on the anterior retina. These reproliferations cause retinal redetachment. Extensive peripheral retinotomy is performed to treat these eyes. This paper shows our results after relaxing retinotomy.
Material and method: Between November, 1991 and December, 1994 retinotomy was performed in 12 eyes. All eyes were treated with scleral buckling methods and vitrectomy, membrane peeling and silicone tamponade without success. Preoperative visual acuity was light perception or hand movements in 10 eyes and 0.5/50 in 2 eyes.
Results: Retinal reattachment was achieved in 10 cases postoperatively. Final visual acuity 5/50-5/10 was observed in 3 eyes, 1/50-4/50 in 5 eyes and light perception or hand movements in 4 eyes.
Conclusion: Our results show that retinotomy allows successful treatment of severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy in cases previously treated with scleral buckling methods and vitreous surgery without success.