LASER THERAPY OF RETINAL TEARS.

Aim: To report the clinical results of treatment of patients with retinal tears or holes, including rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, who were treated primarily with laser retinopexy.

Material and methods: The effect and results of the therapy of patients with one or more retinal tears who underwent therapy with the green laser IQ 532 IRIDEX between December 2019 and August 2022 at our center with a follow-up observation period of at least 3 months were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: A total of 14 eyes of 14 patients were treated by this method during the monitored period. All the tears found were primarily successfully repaired. The overall success rate of prophylaxis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was 93% in our cohort. In one patient, subsequent pars plana vitrectomy was required due to the progression of retinal detachment from another biomicroscopically inaccessible hole, which was part of lattice degeneration in the peripheral part of the retina. This pathology was only verified during intraocular surgery. Postoperatively, the retina was attached with a very good anatomical and functional effect. The other patients did not require any adjuvant therapy. Visual functions improved or remained stable in all patients in the cohort. The follow-up observation period ranged from 3 to 36 months.

Conclusion: Laser retinopexy is a sparing, safe and effective method of retinal tear therapy. From our clinical experience, the technique is also applicable in the case of partial vitreous hemorrhage or incipient rhegmatogenous detachment. We did not record any complications of perioperative or postoperative treatment among our patients.