Parabulbar balloon to augment a failing scleral buckle.

We used an unsecured parabulbar balloon to augment failing scleral buckles in 12 patients with retinal detachments. The balloon was inserted into Tenon's space and expanded over the existing buckle, raising and broadening the buckling effect. In ten patients the leaking breaks closed and the retinas reattached without drainage of subretinal fluid. The balloon was withdrawn after seven days. The attachments were made permanent with adhesions induced by laser applications to the edges of the breaks.