Vitreous surgery with air tamponade for retinal detachment with superiorly located retinal break

Purpose: To evaluate vitrectomy with air-fluid exchange for retinal detachment secondary to superiorly located retinal break. Cases and Method: Above surgery was performed on 25 eyes of 25 patients. The series comprised 16 males and 9 females. Their ages ranged from 46 to 85 years, average 62 years. One eye was pseudophakic and 24 eys were phakic. Excluded were cases with trauma, macular hole, or proliferative vitreoretinopathy. After vitrectomy and air-fluid exchange, the retinal break was closed by intraocular photocoagulation. Results: Retinal reattachment was obtained in 24 eyes (96%) after initial surgery and in 25 eyes (100%) eventually. During the follow-up period from 120 to 773 days, average 295 days, no serious complications developed except proliferative membrane formation around the retinal break in one eye. Conclusion: Vitrectomy with air-fluid exchange is effective for retinal detachment secondary to superiorly located retinal break. Long-acting gas tamponade is not necessary for this type of retinal detachment.