Clinical Ophthalmology (May 2023)
Preventing Retinal Detachment: The Encircling Laser Retinopexy Technique
Abstract
Robert E Morris,1– 3 Ferenc Kuhn,2,4 Cole Richardson1– 3 1Retina Specialists of Alabama, LLC, Birmingham, AL, USA; 2Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education, Birmingham, AL, USA; 3Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL, USA; 4Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pecs, HungaryCorrespondence: Robert E Morris, Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education, 2208 University Boulevard, Suite 101, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA, Tel +1 205 936 0704, Email [email protected]: Encircling (360 degree) retinal detachment prophylaxis using indirect ophthalmoscope laser delivery recently achieved strong proof of safety and effectiveness by preventing the development of peripheral retinal tears and detachments in the eyes of patients with Stickler syndrome (syndromic eyes). Untreated, Stickler syndrome patients have a 65% lifetime risk of retinal detachment (half by age 20, 80% bilateral). This report describes an optimal technique of encircling laser retinopexy to also prevent the more common retinal detachments seen in aging (non-syndromic) eyes that share with Stickler syndrome the common pathogenesis of peripheral retinal tears caused by vitreous traction.Keywords: retinal tear, retinal detachment, retinal detachment prevention, 360-degree laser retinopexy, encircling laser prophylaxis, ora secunda cerclage, Stickler syndrome
