PATTERN OF RETINAL BREAKS AND RETINAL DETACHMENTS IN EYES WITH CHOROIDAL COLOBOMA

Purpose: To describe the type of breaks that occur in the diaphanous t issue within the coloboma of the choroid and the types of retinal deta chment that are associated with these breaks. Methods: This is a retro spective study of 36 eyes of 36 patients with retinal detachments that extended into the choroidal coloboma. Preoperative findings were docu mented using detailed fundus drawings and color photographs. Intraoper ative identification of retinal breaks was possible using high magnifi cation of the operating microscope. Results: Based on the identifiable breaks inside the coloboma and the extent of retinal detachment, thes e patients were divided into five subgroups, Three distinct types of b reaks were identified within the coloboma: (1) breaks at the edge of t he detachment inside the coloboma; (2) oval atrophic breaks; and (3) b reaks in anatomic macula that was involved in the coloboma. Multiple b reaks were common. Conclusions: Retinal detachments that extend into t he colobomatous area always are associated with breaks in the diaphano us tissue. Intraoperative identification of these breaks is relatively easy. Commonly, the breaks are seen at the edge of the retinal detach ment inside the coloboma or as oval breaks within the detached diaphan ous tissue. Macula, if involved in the coloboma, occasionally can harb or a retinal break.