LASER PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF THE FELLOW EYE IN GIANT RETINAL TEARS: Long-Term Follow-up.
To report the results of a retrospective study on prophylactic laser treatment versus observation of giant retinal tears (GRTs) fellow eyes.



One hundred and sixty consecutive charts of patients operated for GRT were included in this retroprospective study. Standard office visit included manifest and corrected refraction, intraocular pressure measurement, slit-lamp examination of the anterior and posterior segment with +90 diopter lens, and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed at baseline and during follow-up period.



Observation group included 62 and prophylactic laser treatment group 98 eyes. The incidence of retinal tears with localized preequatorial retinal detachment, GRTs with macula-ON retinal detachment, and GRTs with Macula-OFF retinal detachment were 3.2, 0, and 14.5%, respectively, during 43.5 ± 19.8 months of follow-up period in observation group and 11.2, 2, and 0%, respectively, in prophylactic laser treatment group during 37.2 ± 16.3 months of follow-up period.



Prophylactic laser treatment of GRTs fellow eyes decreased the incidence of GRTs and limited the consequences of newly developed tears, lowering the occurrence of a macula-off retinal detachment with a consequent better final visual outcome respect to observation group.
*Department of Ophthalmology, G. B. Bietti Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy;†Department of Ophthalmology, Ospedale San Martino-IRCCS, Genoa, Italy; andDepartments of ‡Endocrinology and Metabolism, and§Energy and Systems Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Guido
G
Ripandelli
Tommaso
T
Rossi
Andrea
A
Cacciamani
Fabio
F
Scarinci
Paolo
P
Piaggi
Mario
M
Stirpe
D000328:Adult; D057908:Argon Plasma Coagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult