A NOVEL USE OF FINESSE FLEX LOOP FOR PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel use of the flexible nitinol loop membrane scraper (Finesse Flex Loop; Alcon, Forth Worth, TX) for applying an effective endolaser photocoagulation in proliferative vitreoretinopathy cases.

METHODS

A 27-gauge nitinol flex loop was used to assist applying endolaser photocoagulation to enhance its effectiveness in a case with proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

RESULTS

A 66-year-old woman was presented with proliferative vitreoretinopathy after an unsuccessful pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in her right eye. The patient underwent 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy, preretinal membrane removal, inferior retinectomy, the nitinol flex loop-assisted endolaser photocoagulation, and silicone oil reinjection. After the silicone oil extraction, the retina was reattached and her VA had improved from 0.1 (20/200) to 0.3 (20/60).

CONCLUSION

The nitinol flex loop can be used to assist endolaser photocoagulation and enhance its effectiveness in proliferative vitreoretinopathy cases and reduce the retinal excision area, which results in unnecessary large retinal defects that may lead to redetachment of the retina.