Circular subtotal retinectomy and inferior semicircular retinotomy: preliminary report.

Progress in the treatment of vitreoretinal proliferation has led ophthalmic surgeons to combine vitrectomy, peeling of the epiretinal membrane and silicone oil injection with surgery on the retina. The intervention consists either of a circular subtotal retinectomy leaving only the retina of the posterior pole and a retinal crown of two papillary diameters in width at the periphery of the temporal vessels; or, when the upper retina is already reapplied by silicone oil, of a semicircular lower retinotomy that suppresses the tractions against which the silicone oil is powerless. The sectioning is preceded by an endodiathermy that must be very precise, in order to avoid hemorrhages which are the major complication of the intervention. These preliminary studies will be followed by a detailed study when a larger number of cases is available.