Endoscope-assisted vitrectomy in the management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachments with undetected retinal breaks.

Purpose: To demonstrate the efficacy of endoscope-assisted pars plana vitrectomy in treating patients with retinal detachments with no retinal breaks detected preoperatively.

Methods: Medical records of 20 consecutive eyes with pseudophakic and aphakic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments but without retinal breaks detected preoperatively were reviewed. In each case, endoscope-assisted pars plana vitrectomy was performed.

Results: In 19 of 20 eyes, breaks were identified with the help of an endoscope during surgery. To treat breaks, transscleral cryopexy or endolaser was performed under the endoscopic vision. The retina was reattached after a single surgery in all cases. No serious complication related to the operation was experienced.

Conclusion: Endoscope-assisted vitrectomy is useful in the management of pseudophakic and aphakic retinal detachments with undetected retinal breaks preoperatively.