PROPHYLACTIC LASER TREATMENT TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF RETINAL DETACHMENT IN FELLOW EYES OF IDIOPATHIC GIANT RETINAL TEARS

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic 360° laser treatment in the fellow eye of patients with unilateral idiopathic giant retinal tear (GRT) to prevent the occurrence of a (macula-off) retinal detachment.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, nonrandomized case-control study. Clinical data of consecutive patients, undergoing surgery for idiopathic GRT, between 2003 and 2015 were analyzed. The data collected included GRT, retinal detachment, and RTs in the fellow eye.

RESULTS: We included 129 patients who underwent surgery for an idiopathic GRT, with a mean follow-up period of 107 months. In the observation group, a retinal detachment developed in the fellow eye in 22/51 patients (43.1%), leading to a macula-off detachment in 9/51 patients (17.6%). By contrast, in the prophylactic 360° laser group, only 10/78 (12.8%) patients developed a retinal detachment, leading to a macula-off detachment in 1/78 patient (1.3%). This difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that prophylactic 360° laser treatment in the fellow eye of patients with an idiopathic GRT decreased the incidence of retinal detachment, lowering the high risk of visual loss due to a macula-off retinal detachment.