Failed Pneumatic Retinopexy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair in Ocular Albinism: Clues to the Role of Melanin in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Pump Function.

The authors report the first case, to their knowledge, of failed pneumatic retinopexy (PR) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair in a patient with ocular albinism (OA). The failure of PR to spontaneously resolve the subretinal fluid and reattach the retina in this case is suggestive of a deficiency in subretinal fluid reabsorption by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These findings suggest that in cases of RRD in OA, primary PR should be avoided since this procedure relies on an adequately functioning RPE pump to reabsorb subretinal fluid prior to laser retinopexy. The use of primary vitrectomy or scleral buckling with cryopexy may constitute a more effective strategy for RRD in OA. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:1016-1020.].