Pneumatic repair of primary and secondary retinal detachments using a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser delivery system.

Using intravitreal gas injection of sulfur hexafluoride after retinopexy utilizing a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope argon laser delivery system, the authors treated 12 primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and 10 detachments which recurred after previous scleral buckle surgery. Topical anesthesia only was used in most of the cases (18 of 22). Detachments in all quadrants of the fundus were repaired. Twenty cases remained successfully attached after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Two failures occurred early in eyes with primary retinal detachments and both were successfully repaired by conventional scleral buckling techniques. The authors found pneumatic retinal reattachment in conjunction with laser retinopexy to be particularly valuable in repairing secondary detachments, thereby avoiding conventional surgical reoperations.