Postoperative subretinal neovascular membrane at the drain site of a scleral buckle.

A 57-year-old patient underwent a scleral buckle operation for a rhegmatogenous bullous retinal detachment. An episcleral buckle and cryotherapy were used. Drainage of subretinal fluid was performed beneath the buckle as well as posterior to the buckle, close to the posterior pole. The postoperative course was unremarkable. Eight months later, the patient developed a subretinal neovascular membrane at the drain site posterior to the buckle. This was documented by fluorescein angiography. Such membranes have not been previously documented at retinal drain sites in an ophthalmic journal.