Retinal separation, retinotomy, and macular relocation: I. Experimental studies in the rabbit eye.

An animal model in the rabbit eye was utilized to study mobilization and relocation of the fovea as a potentially beneficial surgical approach to age-related macular disease. After lentectomy and vitrectomy, the retina was completely separated from the pigment epithelium by means of infusion into the subretinal space. A 360 degrees peripheral retinotomy was performed. The retina was rotated up to 60 degrees around the optic nerve as axis and reattached. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed the relative intactness of outer segments and pigment epithelium after this procedure, both acutely and 3 days following reattachment.