Reduction of corneal sensitivity after retinal detachment surgery.

Corneal sensitivity measurements were performed on both eyes of 57 patients after they were subjected to unilateral retinal detachment surgery, the unoperated eyes acting as controls. A marked decrease in corneal sensitivity was found in eyes that were treated with encircling bands, but no significant change of sensitivity could be detected in eyes in which localised radial or circumferential silicone sponge explants alone had been employed. It would appear that encirclement procedures lower the sensitivity of the cornea, and this may continue as a long-term effect.