Relaxing retinotomies and retinectomies.

Relaxing retinotomies and retinectomies are helpful surgical techniques in the treatment of severe cases of retinal detachment with incarcerated retinas, retinal shrinkage caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy, proliferative vasculopathies, or injury after failure of membrane removal and scleral buckling to reattach the retina. They should be considered as a last resort. The retina is reattached with an intraocular tamponade and then treated with transvitreal laser or cryotherapy. Temporary retinal tacking at the posterior retinal edge before intraocular tamponade is helpful. The retina was attached in 18 of 45 eyes with at least six months of follow-up. Visual acuity was counting fingers or better in 11 eyes and 5/200 or better in three.