[Corneal sensitivity after retinal reattachment operation].

The corneal touch threshold (CTT) was determined in 35 eyes before and after retinal reattachment operations. In some cases the CTT of the unaffected eye was taken for comparison. The new aesthesiometer developed by Draeger in 1977 was used and measured CTT in the center of the cornea and in the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock position 1 mm from the limbus. Thirty eyes (86%) showed a rise in CTT after retinal reattachment operations, irrespective of the method of anaesthesia used, and the decrease in corneal sensitivity was observed for up to a period of 5 years postoperatively. Loss of corneal sensitivity was more marked in operations with diathermy and scleral pocketing than in cases with cryopexy and plombage operations. Extremely high CTT values were observed in eyes that underwent encircling procedures, cryopexy, vitrectomy, and gas injection. There was a significantly higher decrease in corneal sensitivity after encircling procedures than after plombage operations.