Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effect of intraoperative 360 degrees laser retinopexy anterior to the equator for the prevention of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after vitrectomy.
Methods: :
A consecutive case series of 378 patients (378 eyes) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent vitrectomy between July 2001 and June 2007. A consecutive cohort of patients who had undergone vitrectomy and 360 degrees laser to the peripheral retina was identified (n=108) and compared with a control group of patients who had not received laser retinopexy (n=270). For the 360 degrees laser group, three rows of burns were placed between the vitreous base and the equator.
Results: :
There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two consecutive series (the 360 degrees laser group and the control group). The intraoperative 360 degrees laser group showed a significant reduction (1.9%, 2/108 eyes) in the rate of the incidence of retinal re-detachment after vitrectomy, compared with the control group (7.0% 19/270 eyes) (P=0.04). And there are no significant differences in postoperative visual acuity (log MAR; the laser group:0.03 and the control group:0.05, P=0.49) and in the complications such as epi-retinal membrane(the laser group:3.7% 4/108 eyes and the control group:3.7% 10/270, P=0.99).
Conclusions: :
Intraoperative 360 degrees laser during vitrectomy showed an reduction in the rate of postoperative retinal detachment without any apparent effects. Considering the vision-threatening nature of retinal re-detachment after vitrectomy, this adjunctive treatment should be considered to be used in vitrectomy procedures.
Keywords: retinal detachment • vitreoretinal surgery • laser