LENS-SPARING VITRECTOMY WITH PERFLUOROCARBON LIQUID FOR THE PRIMARY-TREATMENT OF GIANT RETINAL TEARS

Purpose: To evaluate the surgical success of vitrectomy without initia l lensectomy in the primary treatment of retinal detachment associated with giant tears without proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Th irty-four consecutive phakic eyes with idiopathic giant retinal tears underwent vitrectomy, injection of perfluorocarbon liquid, endolaser, and gas tamponade. Encircling scleral buckling was performed in 14 of 34 patients. Preoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to hand moti ons. Giant tear size ranged from 90 degrees to 330 degrees. Followup r anged from 10 to 64 months. Results: Anatomic retinal re-attachment wa s achieved intraoperatively in all eyes. The re-operation rate was 14% for eyes that underwent scleral buckling with the initial vitrectomy and 45% in eyes without primary scleral buckling. In 59% of eyes with cataract formation, 32% underwent cataract surgery with or without int raocular lens implantation. Best-corrected final visual acuity ranged from 20/15 to 20/400. Conclusion: Most phakic eyes with giant retinal tear not associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy can be re-att ached successfully with initial preservation of the lens.