DRAINAGE OF SUBRETINAL FLUID WITH THE ARGON-LASER

We performed 115 scleral-buckling procedures for primary rhegmatogenou s retinal detachments in which the argon endolaser drained subretinal fluid. The laser was set at 0.80 to 1.25 W and 0.5 second; the endolas er probe was held adjacent to, but not touching, the choroid. The proc edure was successful in 112 of 115 (97.0%) patients. When inadequate d rainage occurred, the use of the penetrating diathermy tip was success ful. The only major complications were subretinal hemorrhages that had migrated posterior to the buckle in two patients (1.70%), retinal per foration in one patient (0.87%), and retinal incarceration in one pati ent (0.87%). Laser drainage caused a slow, controlled drainage of subr etinal fluid.