Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report the affect of cutting the encircling band on ocular blood flow. Methods: This is a retrospective, comparative, interventional case series of 27 eyes that had been treated for retinal detachment with an encircling band operation. 27 eyes were studied that had been treated for retinal detachment with an encircling band operation 1 month to 35 years previously. Ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) was measured and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) derived in the eyes with an encircling band (n=27) and in the unoperated fellow eyes. The bands were cut in 11 eyes and the POBF was measured at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year and compared with the POBF prior to cutting. Changes in retinal attachment, buckle height and visual acuity were determined. Five encircled eyes with apparently normal visual function were tested with electroretinography before and after cutting of the encircling band. Results: The encircling bands diminished the POBF at a mean of 43% (p<0.001); cutting the band resulted in a mean recovery of 37%. The ERG amplitude of the 5 encircled eyes was uniformly depressed and did not recover after the bands were cut. Conclusions: Cutting an encircling band restores a significant amount of lost POBF, does not improve visual function, but may limit its subsequent deterioration. No retina detached after cutting the encircling band.
Keywords: blood supply • ischemia • retinal detachment