Thermofusion of the retina with the RPE to seal tears during retinal detachment repair.

Purpose: To develop an animal model to test the hypothesis that immediate adhesion of the retina to the choroid (retinopexy) can be created by elimination of the water separating the retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) prior to photocoagulation. The retina and RPE are hydrophobic lipoprotein structures separated intraoperatively by a thin layer of fluid despite surgical drainage. If the RPE and retina are contacting, heating should create a unified local coagulum and achieve instantaneous fusing of the retina and RPE, thus sealing the subretinal space around the retinal tear. The surgical technique and histological findings in a rabbit model of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) are reported here.

Method: Nine Dutch-belted, pigmented rabbits underwent vitrectomy with lensectomy, creation of localised retinal detachment by subretinal injection of balanced salt solution (BSS), enlargement of the hole and fluid-gas exchange to "re-attach" the retina. Dehydration of the retina surrounding the hole was achieved by an airstream from a flute needle. A laser (810 nm) was applied in long pulses to achieve a mild retinal reaction around the hole in the dehydrated adjacent retina. The BSS irrigation was resumed. Eyes were then enucleated and the treated retina examined histologically.

Results: The dehydrated and lasered retinal tear margin demonstrated fusion of the retina with the RPE/choroid. The non-dehydrated adjacent areas showed thermal tissue changes in the retina, RPE/choroid and adjacent sclera but remained separated by persistent subretinal fluid and no fusion or unified coagulum developed.

Conclusion: Immediate laser-induced thermal fusion of the retina with the RPE at the margin of a retinal tear can be achieved by removing the subretinal fluid prior to photocoagulation. The integrated coagulum seals the tear margin preventing further fluid entering the subretinal space, thus correcting the cause of RRD. This method may facilitate RRD repair without buckling or internal tamponade.