COMBINED PARS-PLANA VITRECTOMY AND SCLERAL BUCKLING FOR PSEUDOPHAKIC AND APHAKIC RETINAL DETACHMENTS IN WHICH A BREAK IS NOT SEEN PREOPERATIVELY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study presents a group of patients with a pseudophakic or aphakic retinal detachment (RD) and an unseen retin al break who were treated with a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), fluid-ai r exchange, internal drainage, and endolaser in addition to a scleral buckle (SE) procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The charts of 10 consecut ive patients with a pseudophakic or aphakic RD and an unseen retinal b reak who were treated with a PPV, fluid-air exchange, internal drainag e, endolaser, and an SE were reviewed for preoperative and postoperati ve visual acuity, postoperative status of the retina, and surgical com plications. RESULTS: All of the patients with a postoperative follow-u p of at least 6 months continue to maintain an attached retina after o ne operation. Visual acuity has improved by at least 2 lines on the Sn ellen chart in 7 patients, remained the same in 2 patients, and decrea sed in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study shows good anatomic re sults when performing a PPV, fluid-air exchange, internal drainage, an d endolaser together with an SE for pseudophakic or aphakic patients w ith an RD and an unseen break.