Retinal fold in macula following intraocular gas. An avoidable complication of retinal detachment surgery.

Liquid vitreous was replaced with air during a scleral buckle for a superotemporal retinal detachment. After surgery, the patient was positioned so that air rolled over the detached retina from anterior to posterior, pressing a fishmouthed tear against the buckle that resulted in reattachment. After the air was absorbed, a large retinal fold was seen in the superotemporal macula along the former posterior margin of the detachment. If the patient had been positioned so that air rolled over the detached retina from posterior to anterior, the potentially visually destructive posterior retinal fold could have been avoided.