SUTURE NEEDLE DRAINAGE OF SUBRETINAL FLUID

A simple technique is described for the transcleral drainage of subret inal fluid during retinal detachment repair. In a prospective study of 94 consecutive suture needle drainage procedures subretinal fluid was successfully drained in 91 cases. There were six 'significant' subret inal haemorrhages associated with the procedure, but none was subfovea l in location or directly compromised the surgical outcome. In no case was retinal incarceration or retinotomy observed.