Purpose. To study the effectiveness of extrascleral filling (ESF) using endoillumination in the surgical treatment of patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Material and methods. The material for the study was the data of a comprehensive clinical examination and surgical treatment by ESF method using endoillumination in 17 patients (17 eyes) with RRD. In 7 cases (41%), the macular area was involved in the detachment process. In 5 cases (29.4%), local scleral filling was performed. In the remaining 12 cases (70.6%), the local ESF was supplemented with a circling silicone element. Surgical intervention was supplemented by transscleral drainage of subretinal fluid (SRF) in 10 cases (59%) and pneumatic retinopexy with SF6 gas 50% in 8 cases (48%). Results. In the general group of patients, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased from 0.35 to 0.46. In the subgroup of patients with a detached macular area, the positive dynamics is more pronounced, BCVA increased from 0.1 to 0.28. The progression of proliferative vitreoretinopathy caused the recurrence of retinal detachment in two patients (11.8%). Recurrences were diagnosed after 3 and 5 months, respectively. In both cases, a vitrectomy with tamponade of the vitreous cavity with silicone oil 5000 Cst was performed. The percentage of successful anatomical outcome after the first operation in our study was 82%. The percentage of successful achievement of the final anatomical result was 94%. In two cases, additional injection of SF6 gas into the vitreous cavity was required. Conclusion. This type of surgical treatment is an effective method of surgical treatment of patients with RRD. In our study, the successful anatomical outcome after the first operation was recorded in 82% of patients, which correlates with the data of the authors who also used this method (83–92%). Surgeons who performed surgical treatment using this technique in our study note improved workplace ergonomics when visualizing the fundus using an operating microscope and endoillumination compared with indirect ophthalmoscopy. Other teams of authors came to this conclusion as well. In our study, there were no complications associated with the introduction of a light pipe into the vitreous cavity (iatrogenic crystalline lens injury, endophthalmitis), which indicates the safety of this type of surgical treatment.
Subretinal Lavage to Prevent Persistent Subretinal Fluid after Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Surgery: A Study of Feasibility and Safety
