Superior retinal detachment in an oil-filled eye with a colobomatous optic disc.

Background: Optic disk pits are known as congenital cavitary defects associated with serous detachment of the retina; 75% of such cases do not resolve spontaneously, and surgical management is required. The use of gas or oil tamponade in these cases has been associated with detachment of the retina attributed to the passage of intravitreal gas or fluid via the disk pit and into the subretinal space. Prophylactic peripapillary laser retinopexy is therefore recommended peroperatively to create a barrier to fluid flow between the vitreous cavity and the subretinal space.