A new chart for planning retinal surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To design a chart for drawing retinal detachments that minimizes the circumferential distortion that occurs with the current chart.


METHODS
After trying several standard map projections, a hybrid chart was created. It retains the radial equidistant projection of the current chart from the posterior pole to the equator, but superimposes stereographic projection anterior to the equator. The hybrid chart was put on trial for drawing retinal lesions and planning retinal detachment surgery at the New York Hospital and at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen in May 1992.


RESULTS
The stereographic projection anterior to the equator has minimized the distortion of retinal breaks and other pathology in the anterior retina when drawn on the chart. Retinal breaks can be drawn as they are seen ophthalmoscopically and estimates of their real dimensions derived from the chart.


CONCLUSIONS
A new retinal chart that minimizes circumferential distortion anterior to the equator has proven advantages for planning retinal detachment surgery.
Lincoff
H
H
Department of Ophthalmology, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021, USA.
Rosberger
D
D
Kreissig
I
I
D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012591:Scleral Buckling / Q000379:methods