Endoscope-assisted vitrectomy in the management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachments with undetected retinal breaks.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the efficacy of endoscope-assisted pars plana vitrectomy in treating patients with retinal detachments with no retinal breaks detected preoperatively.

METHODS

Medical records of 20 consecutive eyes with pseudophakic and aphakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments but without retinal breaks detected preoperatively were reviewed. In each case, endoscope-assisted pars plana vitrectomy was performed.

RESULTS

In 19 of 20 eyes, breaks were identified with the help of an endoscope during surgery. To treat breaks, transscleral cryopexy or endolaser was performed under the endoscopic vision. The retina was reattached after a single surgery in all cases. No serious complication related to the operation was experienced.

CONCLUSION

Endoscope-assisted vitrectomy is useful in the management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachments with undetected retinal breaks preoperatively.