Radial sponges in retinal detachment surgery.

Radial silicone sponge explants were used in the repair of 100 retinal detachments. The radial sponges were particularly effective in treating retinal detachments with horseshoe tears posterior to the equator, large retinal breaks, and elongated radial tears. In 90 of these cases an encircling silicone band was used in addition to the radial sponge. The silicone band was employed to close other small retinal breaks and to relieve vitreous traction in aphakes and myopes. The success rate of reattachment was 94% and the final vision was better or the same post-operatively in 88% of cases.