External subretinal drainage, bevacizumab, and scleral buckling for complete exudative retinal detachment after photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity.

BACKGROUND

Total serous retinal detachment after laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity is an infrequent type of retinal detachment in preterm babies.

PURPOSE: To describe the successful outcome for treatment by scleral drainage, bevacizumab, and scleral buckling for complete serous exudative retinal detachment in a patient with retinopathy of prematurity.

METHODS

A preterm baby with primary pulmonary hypertension under treatment with sildenafil developed a total (retrolental) serous retinal detachment after photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy. The dense subretinal fluid was externally drained using a bent needle with an infusion placed in the anterior chamber. Additional bevacizumab and scleral buckling helped to control the plus disease and subretinal leakage.

RESULTS

Retinal apposition was obtained with the described approach.

CONCLUSION

Total serous retinal detachment is a rare but severe visual complication in retinopathy of prematurity. The described technique may restore the retinae immediately in a visually critical period.