Giant pigment epithelial tear after scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To describe a patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who developed a giant tear of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) after scleral buckling.

PATIENT: A 64-year-old man with RRD underwent scleral buckling and cryoretinopexy on his right eye.

RESULTS

A #506 silicone sponge was placed on the exit of the three vortex vein to seal retinal tears. On the 3 postoperative day, a choroidal detachment appeared, and on the 10 postoperative day, a large RPE developed at the posterior edge of the choroidal detachment. One month later, the entire retina was completely attached without any treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Ophthalmic surgeons should be aware that an RPE tear can be associated with choroidal detachment after scleral buckling.