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The worldwide incidence and prevalence of myopia has increased. The age of onset of this refractive disorder has inversely decreased. In addition to genetic and familial factors, environmental factors related to a sedentary lifestyle and activities in highly solicited near vision seem to have an impact on the development of axial myopia, that is an early and non-reversible elongation of the eyeball. Prevention of the development of myopia in pediatrics through simple daily measures plays therefore a fundamental role. In addition, pharmacological treatments, and specific optical treatments for controlling myopia have shown encouraging results in reducing the risk of long-term complications of progressive myopia, that is increased risk of developing cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or maculopathy., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Introduction: Seasonal variations seem to modify the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), with a summer peak, although the meteorological parameters involved have not been studied in France. In order to conduct a national study evaluating the association between the occurrence of RRD and various climatological variables (METEO-POC study), we need to establish a national cohort of patients having undergone surgery for RRD. The data of the National Health Data System (SNDS) allow the realization of epidemiological studies concerning various pathologies. However, as these databases were initially intended for medical administrative use, the identification of the pathologies coded in these databases must be validated before any use for research purposes. In order to carry out a cohort study using SNDS data, the objective of this study is to validate the identification criteria for patients having undergone RRD surgery at Toulouse University Hospital., Methods: We compared the cohort of RRD surgery patients at Toulouse University Hospital from January to December 2017 assembled from SNDS data with the cohort of patients meeting the same selection criteria assembled from Softalmo software data., Results: With a positive predictive value of 82.0%, a sensitivity of 83.8%, a specificity of 69.9%, and a negative predictive value of 72.5%, we can consider that our eligibility criteria are performing well., Conclusion: Since the selection of patients via SNDS data is reliable at Toulouse University Hospital, we can use it at the national level for the METEO-POC study., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To report the causes, clinical features and surgical outcomes of retinal detachment (RD) in young adults., Methods: Retrospective study of 111 eyes of 99 patients aged between 18 and 40 years, who underwent primary RD surgery between January 2011 and January 2019. All patients underwent either scleral buckling or pars plana vitrectomy. We analyzed the demographic data, characteristics of the RD, primary and final anatomic success rate and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the conclusion of follow-up., Results: The mean age of the patients was 30.3±6.5 years. RD was more frequent in males, with a gender ratio of 1.8. The breaks were atrophic round holes or retinal dialysis in 49 (44.2%) cases and were associated with posterior vitreous detachment in 62 (55.8%) cases. The main etiologies were high myopia (45.0%) and trauma (9.0%). Retinal reattachment was achieved in 74 (66.5%) eyes overall with a single procedure and in 108 (97.2%) eyes with two or more procedures. The primary success rates were 69.6% (46/66 eyes) with scleral buckling and 62.2% (28/45 eyes) with vitrectomy. High myopia was a risk factor for surgical failure (P<0.01). The mean BCVA improved from 0.71±0.64 logMAR to 0.41±0.35 logMAR (P<0.01) CONCLUSION: RD in young adults differs from that in older adults in clinical features and etiology. The main causes are trauma and high myopia. The anatomic outcomes appear less favorable, with a primary reattachment rate of 66.5%. However, the functional prognosis remains satisfactory with an improvement of 3 lines of visual acuity., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Purpose: To appreciate the epidemiological characteristics and to show the therapeutic aspects of the giant retinal tears., Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from January 2014 to June 2017 on subjects with giant retinal tears. Patients with media opacities limiting examination were excluded., Results: We identified 17 cases of giant retinal tears. The frequency of detachments related to a giant retinal tear was 17% compared to all retinal tears. The mean age was 50.75 years with a sex ratio (M/F) of 6.5. We found three cases of high myopia, one case of hyperopia and four trauma cases. All patients had a decrease in visual acuity. The average time to consultation was four weeks. The mean intraocular pressure was 8mmHg. The tear was found in the left eye in eight cases and in the right eye in five cases; two cases were bilateral. We performed intraocular surgery in five eyes and laser in four eyes. We achieved anatomical reattachment and functional improvement in all operated patients., Comments and Conclusion: The prognosis of a giant retinal tear remains guarded, especially if patients are seen and treated late. Laser photocoagulation of giant tears remains effective, especially in cases of early diagnosis., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of retinal detachment (RD) surgery from January 2011 to November 2014., Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 182 eyes of 175 patients with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, operated for RD at Nantes University Medical Center. It consists of 56 simple RDs and 126 complex RDs treated in first intention by Scleral Buckling (SB), vitrectomy or combined surgery. The analysis is based on anatomic reattachment at the end of a follow-up of at least 6 months after the first surgery and the progression of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)., Results: One hundred and seventy-two vitrectomies, 15 SB and 5 combined surgeries (vitrectomy+SB) were performed. The overall anatomical success rate after a single operation was 131 eyes (72 %). It increased to 163 eyes (90 %) at the end of the follow-up. Depending on the type of RD, anatomic success at 6 months after surgery was achieved for 47 simple RDs (84 %) and 84 complex RDs (67 %). At the end of the follow-up, after one or more operations, these rates increased to 53 simple RDs (95 %) and 110 complex RDs (87 %). For all RDs with an anatomically successful result, we observed a visual improvement≥2 lines in 45 % of cases and a postoperative BCVA≥5/10 in 40 % of cases., Conclusion: This study confirms the evolution toward vitrectomy surgery for retinal detachment. It finds anatomical and functional results consistent with the literature, with a percentage of approximately 5 % of RDs still not reattached in spite of several operations., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Retinal detachment (RD) is a potentially blinding condition. Delay in management is a major prognostic factor. In our study, we analyzed the treatment delay for retinal detachments in the Midi-Pyrenees area, and factors which may influence it., Material and Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, multicentric study, carried out over a 6-month period., Primary Outcome: time between diagnosis and surgery. Secondary outcome: time between first symptoms and surgery. Non-parametric tests were used to analyze the influence of sociodemographic features, clinical features, distance between home and surgical center, and occurrence over a weekend., Results: One hundred and fiftty-nine patients were included. The mean time between diagnosis and surgery was 4.4 ± 12.3 days (2.7 ± 4.3 for recent RD, less than 1 month), and was increased by the presence of a weekend (P<0.001), or of a weekend with public holiday (P=0.023), and by macular detachment (P=0.008). The mean time between first symptoms and surgery was 12.0 days and was increased by the absence of RD history (P=0.023), and by macular detachment (P=0.046). No association was observed between these times to surgery and the distance between the patient's home address and the place of surgery., Conclusion: The time between diagnosis and surgery was relatively short in the Midi-Pyrénées area, but we often noted a delayed diagnosis, which may be due to the patient's lack of awareness of the symptoms and difficult access to specialty consultations. However, no relationship was found between this time-to-surgery and the distance between the patient's home and the surgical center., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Introduction: Bilateral retinal detachments are rare, but their occurrence increases in cases of high myopia. The objective of our research is to study their incidence, management and postoperative results. This is a study of the medical records of nine patients with high myopia and simultaneous or consecutive bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment., Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of the medical records of nine patients (18 eyes), aged 11-38 years old, with high myopia and simultaneous or consecutive bilateral retinal detachment. All had surgery on our medical service between September 1, 2010 and September 1, 2011., Results: Bilateral retinal detachments represented 4.11% of the total cases operated during this period (219 patients) and 9.17% of the retinal detachments with high myopia (98 patients). The sex ratio is 1 male to 8 females, with an average age of 31 years old. The detachments were simultaneously bilateral for 3 patients. The initial corrected visual acuity varied between 1/40 and 4/10, macular retinoschisis was found in one case, and the breaks found were atrophic holes and horseshoe breaks. Scleral buckling with cryotherapy was performed in all patients, with a primary reattachment rate of 88.8%; and no vitreoretinal surgery was performed. The final visual acuity varied between 1/20 and 6/10., Conclusion: The incidence of bilateral retinal detachment increases in cases of associated high myopia; it is observed essentially among young patients. Management is difficult because of the risk of associated vitreoretinal proliferation, and the final visual recovery depends on the type of detachment and the degree of myopia. Classical surgery performed correctly and early allows for satisfactory results in most cases., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic factors in cases of inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RD) treated by scleral buckling surgery., Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 45 patients (45 eyes) with inferior RD with only inferior tears (4:00-8:00), who had been treated by scleral buckling surgery over a 6-year period from 2006 to 2011. The parameters studied included patient demographics, refractive status, time until consultation, clinical exam data, treatment modalities and functional and anatomic results., Results: Forty-five cases were included in this study (45 eyes), with an average patient age of 44.5 years (14 to 75 years) and a slight male predominance (56%). Myopia was observed in 60%. Mean time until consultation was 3.5 months. Visual acuity on admission was less than 1/10 in 53.33%. Macular detachment was found in 80%. Causative lesions were holes in 26 eyes. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was essentially stage B in 48.9%. Scleral buckling surgery was performed in all patients, with drainage of subretinal fluid in 37.8%. Retinal reattachment was obtained in 36 eyes (80%) with a final visual acuity greater than or equal to 1/10 in 71.11%. The mean follow-up in our study was 6.62 months., Conclusion: Inferior retinal detachment has a predilection for young myopes. The time until consultation is often long, and extraocular surgery, although difficult, exhibits documented efficacy., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Acetazolamide reduces intraocular pressure and stimulates absorption of subretinal fluid by the retinal pigment epithelium. Recording the intraocular pressure response to systemic acetazolamide might enable an indirect evaluation of retinal pigment epithelial carbonic anhydrase., Methods: The intraocular pressure response to a standardized dose of intravenous acetazolamide (5mg/kg) was evaluated in a "case" group of 15 patients undergoing retinal detachment (RD) surgery and in a control group of 15 patients undergoing epiretinal membrane peeling. Intraocular pressure was measured with a handheld Perkins tonometer in a supine position before (t-2 min) and after the intravenous administration of acetazolamide (t+2 min, t+6 min, t+10 min and t+30 min). The mean variation of the intraocular pressure was compared between the two groups in the non-operated eye at each time point., Results: A significant reduction of the intraocular pressure was observed in both groups at 2, 6 and 10 minutes (P<0.01) after the injection of acetazolamide (5mg/kg). The reduction was significantly lower in the group of patients who underwent retinal detachment surgery when compared with the group of patients in whom epiretinal membrane peeling had been performed. This difference remained significant up to 10 minutes (P<0.01 at t=2, 6 and 10 min). At t=30 min, the intraocular pressure reduction was comparable in both groups., Discussion: The vitreous plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of retinal detachment via peripheral traction. However, since not all tears lead inevitably to retinal detachment, there must also be adherence factors which can prevent the latter. The response to acetazolamide differs significantly in patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery compared with patients treated with epiretinal membrane peeling. In the occurrence of retinal detachment, deficient photoreceptor adherence to the retinal pigment epithelium has been hypothesized. Further research should aim to correlate the tonometric response to acetazolamide with photoreceptor adherence., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Degenerative lesions of the peripheral retina are present from teenage years onwards and increase with age. These abnormabilities are frequent, some of them being benign while others predispose to retinal tears and detachment. In the latter case, the lesions are rhegmatogenous and may justify prophylactic treatment by laser photocoagulation. We distinguish congenital lesions of the peripheral retina and intraretinal, chorioretinal and vitreoretinal degenerations. The holes and tears observed in 2% of the population consist of round atrophic holes, "horseshoe" tears, oral dialyses and giant tears., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, characteristics and risk factors for rhegmatogenous complications of transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy (TSV) in macular surgery. The results were correlated with those reported in the literature., Methods: Multicentric retrospective study of a cohort of patients undergoing macular surgery by 23-gauge TSV between January 2009 and June 2010., Results: Four hundred and seventy-four patients divided into: epiretinal membrane (MEM) (n=279), vitreomacular traction (n=65) and idiopathic macular hole n=130. Forty-three percent of patients were pseudophakic. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was absent in 60% of cases and was therefore systematically performed intraoperatively. It was seen that 1.7% of patients developed retinal tears and 2.7% retinal detachment with a higher incidence in the vitreomacular traction (VMT) group and the group in which the PVD was performed intraoperatively. Rhegmatogenous lesions were localized mainly in the inferior retina in the macular hole group., Discussion: Results are consistent with the TSV literature. Their location does not appear to be related to the sclerotomies or handedness as in 20-gauge surgery, probably due to sclerotomy trocars. Localization of rhegmatogenous lesions in the inferior retina in macular hole surgery suggests a role of gas in this subgroup. In addition to instrument-retinal touch, the performance of a surgical PVD represents a major independent risk factor for retinal detachment (RD)., Conclusion: Even with limited macular surgery, it is essential to check the retinal periphery for 360 degrees, especially for VMT and intraoperative PVD, and especially inferiorly in the case of gas tamponnade., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Retinal detachment, a common complication of cataract surgery, requires urgent surgical treatment. The external approach combining retinopexy with scleral buckling remains the gold standard in the surgical management of pseudophakic retinal detachment (RD) without marked proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), although intraocular surgery is currently preferred by most of the authors. The purpose of this study is to compare the anatomical and functional results obtained with both techniques., Patients and Methods: This study compares the results of two techniques for treating pseudophakic retinal detachment: external surgery (group I), and vitrectomy with internal tamponade (group II). Ab-externo surgery was performed in 24 patients (24 eyes), while 22 patients (22 eyes) underwent primary vitrectomy. In order to make both groups comparable, we excluded recurrences of RD, vitreous hemorrhage and other media opacities, giant tears and initial grade C PVR. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. Postoperative variables analyzed and compared were the rate of initial and final anatomical success, final visual acuity, and causes of failure of the initial surgery., Results: The retina was reattached with a single operation in 21 eyes in group I (87.5%) and 19 eyes in group II (86.4%) (P=0.91). The causes of anatomical failure in both groups were proliferative vitreoretinopathy (4 cases) and secondary tears or tears not seen on initial examination (2 cases). For patients in group I, secondary surgery consisted of total vitrectomy with encircling buckle. Patients in group II underwent an additional vitrectomy (peeling of vitreoretinal proliferation, and silicone oil tamponade as necessary). After a mean follow-up of 12 months, the final examination noted a reattached retina in 23 eyes in group I (95.84%) and 21 eyes in group II (95.45%) (P=0.95). The final visual results were identical at comparable follow-up periods. Indeed, the final visual acuity was similar in the two groups with nearly 40% of patients having recovered visual acuity between 1/10 and 5/10 (P=0.98)., Conclusion: With regard to surgical treatment of pseudophakic retinal detachment, vitrectomy with internal tamponade provides anatomical and functional results comparable to those obtained with external surgery., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate risk factors for failure of scleral buckling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in an adult Moroccan population., Methods: A retrospective study of 432 eyes of 422 patients undergoing scleral buckling (SB) for primary RRD between 2001 and 2009 was carried out. Statistical analysis of risk factors for failure was performed using binary logistic regression., Results: Mean patient age was 43 ± 15 years, and 45.4% were myopic. The median recurrence was at 10 months. The final failure rate was 22.5%. Univariate analysis shows that significant risk factors for failure were extent of RRD ≥ 3 quadrants (P<0.001), advanced PVR (P<0.001) and worsening PVR postoperatively (P<0.001). In the multivariate model, the only significant risk factor for failure was the worsening postoperative PVR (P<0.001)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that worsening of PVR after surgery is the major risk factor for failure of SB in RRD. Thus, it is necessary to recognize the risk factors contributing to PVR and to plan the most appropriate, earliest and least traumatic surgical treatment of RRD., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the indications and the effect of permanently maintaining silicone oil in the treatment of certain cases of vitreoretinal pathology., Patients and Methods: Twenty-seven cases seen from January 2002 to December 2008 were retrospectively studied. Silicone oil was kept in the eyes for more than 2years. The surgical file was analyzed in all cases. The evaluation criteria were ocular pressure, emulsification, cataract, corneal dystrophy, and the functional response of the retina and optic nerve. Ultrasound echography (12 MHz), magnetic resonance imaging, and electrophysiological explorations (visual evoked potential and electroretinography) were performed., Results: Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients were included in this study. The main reasons for maintaining long-term silicone oil are recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment with severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and penetrating injury. The patients were distributed into two groups: group 1 included patients with both functional and anatomic failure, group 2 patients had achieved ambulatory vision. Follow-up ranged from 27 to 72months. Cataract incidence was approximately 91% in group 2. Emulsification was noted without high pressure in 50% of the cases in group 1. High pressure averaged 31.8% in group 2. Keratopathy was observed in 9% of the cases in group 2. Intraorbital migration of silicone oil was found in one case. The visual field was improved in 77% of the cases in group 2., Conclusion: This study provided interesting insights into certain clinical situations in which silicone oil has to be maintained permanently. The complications stem not only from the presence of silicone oil, but also from the preoperative status of the eye and the vitreoretinal surgery., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Postoperative pain in retinal detachment surgery is frequent but it is often underestimated. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of postoperative pain after retinal detachment surgery and to identify its predictive factors in a longitudinal study. We included 106 patients operated for retinal detachment surgery using an endo-ocular or exo-ocular approach with general anesthesia. Postoperative monitoring for 24 h evaluated the intensity of pain using a numerical scale. The possible predictive factors of this pain were studied: ocular antecedents, premedication, total amount of morphine used, type of surgery, duration of surgery, and vomiting. The incidence of postoperative pain was 57.5%, 56% of which was intense pain. Postoperative pain was greatest during the first 4 h. The predictive factors of this pain revealed by bivariate analysis of the data were the type of surgery and vomiting. The incidence and intensity of postoperative pain after retinal detachment surgery remain high. Pain management requires postoperative treatment of vomiting as well as the development of the endo-ocular surgery and locoregional anesthesia techniques.

Surgical treatment of inaugural retinal detachment achieves anatomical success in approximately 85%-90% of cases after one operation and up to 94%-96% after two or more operations. Recurrent detachment may occur more or less frequently after a variable lapse of time. Early recurrences occur within 6 weeks following the first surgery and late recurrences more than 6 weeks later. Insufficient treatment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) are the main causes of early recurrence. Late recurrences are mainly caused by vitreous base traction, but the literature has few reports on these cases. Prevention of recurrence requires careful surgery and reasonable use of cryo while waiting for a proven pharmacological treatment of PVR.

Purpose: To determine the epidemiological and clinical factors involved in inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachments and to propose a therapeutic plan., Patients and Methods: A retrospective case note review of 173 patients (175 eyes), 11-89 years old, who had been operated on for inferior retinal detachment over a 13-year period between 1990 and 2003., Results: The retinal reattachment rate after initial surgery was 79.5%, the final anatomical success rate was 81.5%. Scleral buckling surgery was used for the primary repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in 111 cases and it was successful in 81 cases. Fifty-eight patients underwent vitrectomy with internal silicone oil tamponade. Anatomical success was obtained in 55 cases (94.8%) without recurrence. Endocular surgery allowed surgeons to find missed causal tear in 76% of cases. Mixed surgery was undertaken in four cases, with three good results. Visual acuity improved in 81% of cases, remained unchanged in 15% of cases, and deteriorated in 4% of cases. The mean final visual acuity ranged from 2.5 to 3/10, while it was only 1/20 before surgery. The mean improvement in visual acuity was 2.5 lines. The mean follow-up in our study was 13+/-11 months., Conclusion: Inferior retinal detachment usually occurred in young myopic or old pseudophakic subjects. These patients are characterized by the absence of tears. Vitrectomy in primary repair with inferior retinal detachment improves their anatomical and functional prognosis.

Purpose: Analysis of the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of retinal detachment after ocular blunt trauma., Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients with isolated retinal detachment after ocular blunt trauma, studying their epidemiological characteristics (age, sex and trauma circumstances), their clinic details and the surgical techniques used., Results: The average age of our patients was 39.3 Years; most were male (75%). Assault and home accidents were the most common cause of ocular trauma (83.2%). Total retinal detachment was noted in 47.9%. Of the retinal breaks found, dialysis at the ora serrata was observed in 22%, atrophic holes in 33.9%, retinal breaks in 40.6% and giant tears in 4.2%. Most of the breaks were situated at the lower temporal quadrant. Forty one out of the 48 patients were operated on, with surgical treatment consisting in episcleral surgery in 38 cases and vitreoretinal surgery in three cases. Complete anatomical success was achieved in 92.7%., Conclusion: This survey shows that the prognosis of retinal detachment after ocular blunt trauma remains favorable given the young age and the absence of advanced vitreoretinal proliferation, but this should not affect the importance of prevention.

Introduction: The prognosis of the formation of epiretinal membranes after retinal break or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, treated or not treated, does not seem as favorable as that of the idiopathic membranes, but has not yet been extensively studied. Our goal was to analyze the functional result and the retinal complications of the treatment of these membranes., Methods: The retrospective study deals with a consecutive series of 28 patients operated on for epimacular membranes, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. The outcome measures were the postoperative visual acuity at 3-6 months compared with the preoperative visual acuity, taking into account the condition of the crystalline lens as well as the incidence of membrane recurrence and new or recurrent retinal detachment., Results: A 2-line or more visual improvement was achieved in 57% of the cases (16/28), i.e., 36% of eyes with progressive cataract (4/11), 50% of primary pseudophakic eyes (3/6), and 80% of eyes with unchanged lens (8/10). There was no recurrent epimacular membrane formation, with a mean follow-up of 8.7 months. A new or recurrent retinal detachment was observed in 25% of the cases (7/28)., Discussion and Conclusion: These results, compared with those achieved in the treatment of idiopathic membranes, as the literature reports, confirm the fair surgical prognosis of epimacular membrane formation after retinal break or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Introduction: Dislocated nuclear fragments during phakoemulsification are a well-known complication. The treatment is often surgical, and serious complications, among which a retinal detachment may occur. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its incidence, risk factors, and prognosis., Methods: This retrospective study included a consecutive series of 24 eyes undergoing posterior vitrectomy for dislocated nuclear fragments during phakoemulsification. The main outcome measures were the postoperative retinal detachment (incidence, risk factors, prognosis)., Results: Two retinal detachments occurred after vitrectomy, an incidence of 8%. In both cases, a significant inflammation of the anterior chamber and corneal decompensation were noted before vitrectomy. More than 50% of the nucleus was dislocated. Intraocular implant manipulation did not intervene in either case. Two tears occurred during vitrectomy in one case. The prognosis of the detachment, with proliferation, was poor in both cases., Discussion: and conclusion: The high incidence of retinal detachment compares with that observed after phakoemulsification complicated by vitreous loss. Anterior segment deterioration, which compromises posterior segment visualization, and dislocation of more than 50% of the nucleus, that increases the risk of fragments falling on the retina during vitrectomy, may increase the occurrence of retinal detachment with a poor prognosis because of periretinal proliferation.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of axial length and epiretinal membrane (ERM) separation during vitrectomy for retinal detachment due to macular hole in high myopia., Patients and Methods: Thirty-two consecutive highly myopic eyes (31 patients) with retinal detachment due to a macular hole were retrospectivly studied. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade (C3F8). An epiretinal membrane was removed in 9 cases. The 32 cases were divided into 3 groups: anatomical success after the initial surgery (group 1, 15 cases); anatomical success after two surgical procedures without silicone oil (group 2, 5 cases), and silicone oil tamponade (group 3, 12 cases)., Results: Retinal reattachment occurred in 15 cases (46.8%) after the initial surgery. The difference of axial length between the 3 groups was not significant. The rate of anatomical success without silicone oil was 88.8% (8/9 cases) when an ERM was peeled and the number of peelings was significantly higher (p=0,04) in group 1 than in group 3., Conclusion: The axial length was not a pronostic factor of silicone oil tamponade in this study. The success rate was higher when an ERM was peeled. However, considering the technical difficulty in removing the ERM completely, gas tamponade seems to be the better initial treatment.

Among all the types of retinal detachments, the most common are rhegmatogenous detachments, as defined by the presence of a break in the retina. This is the predominant factor in their mechanism. For this reason, treatment is exclusively surgical and consists of sealing the retinal holes by adhesion. The main cause is modification of the vitreous fluid due to age. Presently, surgery obtains good functional results if undertaken rapidly: retinal detachment is an emergency. An essential factor in prophylaxy is information of patients and physicians.

The paper present the functional and anatomic results obtained in 376 retinal detachment operations done in the Ophthalmological Clinic from Cluj-Napoca. The following types of operations were done: cerclage Arruga, scleral indentation, surface diathermy, laser photocoagulation. The retrospective study revealed percentages of 73.41% the anatomic reapplication and 50% in functional recovery. The negative influencing factors of the prognosis were: aphakia, large and old retinal detachments, macular region affectation.

We report 95 cases of retinal detachment in patients aged from 17 to 82 years, aphakic (49 cases) and pseudophakic (46 cases). Risk factors are vitreous issue, inflammation, Yag capsulotomy, retinal predisposal lesions and secondary implantation. Surgery is not different from other retinal detachment. Anatomic result are successful in 66% of aphakic and in 70% of pseudophakic patients.

There is a statistically significant correlation between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and myopia. The prevalence of retinal detachment in myopic eyes is related to the prevalence of the disease precursors in such eyes. In most cases retinal detachments in myopic eyes share the clinical features of retinal detachments in emmetropic eyes. However, retinal detachments associated with giant tears and retinal detachment with atrophic holes in lattice, which are infrequent, show an increased prevalence in the myopic eye. In addition, retinal detachments associated with post-equatorial paravascular retinal tears, as well as retinal detachments with macular holes are specific or the myopic eye. Surgery is required in the management of retinal detachment. At present permanent retinal reattachment can be achieved in approximately 90% of eyes. The indications for prophylactic treatment remain debated. The high incidence of failures of prophylactic treatment is probably related to the limits of the current techniques.

Natural history of retinal detachment (RD) studies on clinical exam of 200 patients revealed that RD, is the consequence of multiple risk factors preparing to PVD. This phenomenon depends therefore from peculiar background, patient's age, and opportunistic traumatism. The best prophylaxis would be represented by a mean of inducing PVD without retinal damage. Since no possibilities are present right now, retinopexy or surgical mechanical action are used as prophylactic methods. Results are discussed in this paper based on long-term-follow-up of 300 patients.

Based upon biometric and statistical analysis of 163 eyes (26 mm or longer), it appears that high myopia cataract occur all the earlier as the eye is long; on average, these were operated on ten years earlier than cataracts in the general population. Extra-capsular extraction and intercapsular implantation were generally used. Pre and post-operative complications are remarkably rare for such abnormal eyes. After a mean period of 22 months, detachment of the retina was observed in 1.84% of patients and secondary capsulotomy performed in 8%. Because they prevent secondary capsular opacification and anterior vitreous propagation, it appears that such barrier-type implants should be systematically placed. Current large-diameter implants allow for vitreoretinal observation. Based upon this patient population, a formula for implant power calculation specific to high myopia has been elaborated. The desired degree of refraction varies with age and patient activity.

We have found a global bilateral retinal detachments (R.D.) rate of 15,52% over a population of 1148 patients. 60% of these bilateral R.D. have been seen by us for the first time at the moment of the detachment of the second eye. The actual percentage of R.D. on a second eye that was free of any R.D. at the first examination is 3,5% only, and it climbs to 4,45% if we consider only the second eyes harboring dangerous peripheral retinal lesions. This result compares favourably to the 10% to 20% second eye R.D. rate in the absence of preventive treatment; it has been obtained through a systematic prophylaxy of all retinal breaks and almost all lattice, snowflake, and schisis by cryoapplication or xenon photocoagulation or mostly argon laser photocoagulation. In the absence of any peripheral retinal lesion systematic equatorial argon laser circular photocoagulations can be useful.

This work analyzes 9 cases of retinal detachment occurred after posterior capsulotomy with Yag laser. No relationship has been found between the timing of the Yag capsulotomy after cataract extraction, and seriousness or precocity of the retinal detachment. The size of the capsulotomy does not seem to play a main part either. The study shows the part of the posterior capsule and the importance of associated risks (myopia, peripheral degenerative lesions, previous retinal detachment in the fellow eye). The role of the Yag laser treatment seems doubtful.

In less than fifteen years old children, thirty nine non traumatic retinal detachments are reported. Their poor prognosis is attributed to the late diagnosis, the early age occurrence, the combination with an ocular pathology (congenital aphakia--myopia--hereditary vitreoretinal degeneration) present on the first examination. Prophylaxis of the fellow eye is recommended in order to avoid the alarming occurrence of bilateral detachment.

Retinal detachment recurrence is defined the reappearance of a detachment after an initial complete success, whatever the delay between surgery and recurrence. This eliminates immediate failures due to inadequate buckles or major complications during surgery, exsudative retinal detachments that reattach spontaneously within a few days and cases where it is not sure that the retina had been completely reattached initially (cloudy media). Employing these criteria, a retrospective study demonstrated 130 eyes with recurrences out of a total of 1237 eyes operated between 1-10-69 and 31-12-79 (10,5 per cent rate); recurrences occurred in this series between 3 days and 7 years after initial surgery, 53,5 per cent of them within an interval of less than 3 months. The most important recurrence risk factors appear to be: detachment due to a retinal tear and not a hole, bullous detachment, abnormal vitreous but not full blown, massive vitreo-retinal retraction and massive intraocular bleeding during subretinal fluid drainage.

An inquiry conducted with French ophthalmologists shows an incidence of retinal detachment in the French population of about 8 in 100000, 13 to 14p. 100 of the cases were bilateral.

Retinal detachment is a rare but serious disease with potential socio-professional repercussions. Its prevention rests on information of medical practitioners and patients and on photocoagulation with argon laser. Nowadays, the curative treatment of retinal detachment is surgical. When applied at an early stage and correctly performed, it should normally give satisfactory functional results.