Non-contact navigated laser retinopexy for peripheral retinal tears and rhegmatogenous degenerations: first experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the first outcomes of non-contact navigated laser retinopexy for peripheral tears and rhegmatogenous degenerations of the retina.

Material And Methods: This prospective single-center interventional pilot study included 58 patients (68 eyes), among which 19 males and 39 females aged 47.5±16.9 years with peripheral retinal degenerations and symptomatic retinal tears who received non-contact laser retinopexy with the Navilas 577s navigated laser system and non-contact PRP widefield objective. All patients (68 eyes) underwent laser treatment for the following disorders: horseshoe tear in 13 eyes, retinal hole in 11 eyes, operculated retinal hole in 3 eyes, lattice degeneration in 19 eyes, snail track degeneration in 1 eye, vitreoretinal tufts in 16 eyes, and progressing bullous retinoschisis in 5 eyes. Pain intensity was assessed using a four-point verbal rating scale.

Results: All patients were followed up for 5 to 21 months (9.0±3.3 months on average). Stable condition of the retina was observed in 65 cases (95.5%). In 3 eyes (4.4%), newly formed retinal tears prompted additional laser treatment: horseshoe tear in 2 eyes and retinal hole in 1 eye. The mean pain score during non-contact navigated laser retinopexy was 0.9±0.5. No complications associated with laser treatment were observed.

Conclusion: Non-contact navigated laser retinopexy performed with the Navilas 577s navigated laser system is a safe and well-tolerated procedure with effectiveness comparable to conventional laser retinopexy.