A comparison of the influence of temporary balloon buckles and permanent episcleral silicone sponges on postoperative ocular motility in retinal detachment surgery.

The influence of retinal surgery on ocular motility was examined in 60 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment caused by one tear. Thirty patients were treated with cryotherapy and an episcleral radial silicone sponge explant. The remaining 30 patients were treated with a Lincoff temporary balloon buckle procedure. Extensive pre- and postoperative orthoptic examinations showed the impairment of ocular motility to be significantly less with the balloon-buckle procedure.