title: Surgical treatment and outcome of patients with giant retinal tears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the management and outcome in retinal detachments associated with giant retinal tears (GRTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, case note analysis of patients treated between November 1991 and June 2002 at a tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The case notes of 29 patients (24 males, 5 females) with a follow-up ranging from five months to 7 years were reviewed. In all, 25 eyes had retinal detachments with macular involvement and 10 patients had myopia more than 6 D. All patients underwent vitrectomy. A total of 23 patients had heavy liquid and 16 had scleral explants; 28 patients had silicone oil and one had C3F8 tamponade. Intraoperative complications included lens trauma and iatrogenic GRT. Six eyes had recurrent retinal detachment and needed multiple surgical procedures. At the last follow-up, 25 patients had anatomically attached retinas. In all, 18 fellow eyes were treated prophylactically. Three patients had total retinal detachment and marked PVR. The visual acuity improved in 20 eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GRTs are more common in patients with high myopia. With newer techniques of surgical treatment of GRTs, the anatomical and visual outcomes are more favourable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vitreo-retinal Surgery, Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, City Hospital, NHS Trust, Dudley Road, Birmingham B18 7QU, UK.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Savant
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kotamarthi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: R A H
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tyagi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods