PNEUMATIC RETINOPEXY for the TREATMENT of SHALLOW RETINAL DETACHMENT CAUSED by A RETINAL BREAK in the INTERCALARY MEMBRANE of MACULA SPARING RETINOCHOROIDAL COLOBOMA

Purpose:To report the surgical outcome of pneumatic retinopexy in a patient with retinal detachment from a single break in the intercalary membrane of an eye with macula sparing retinochoroidal coloboma. Methods: Interventional case report. A 32-year-old man presented with defective vision in left eye for 6 months. Vision was 6/18 in right eye and 6/15 left eye. Examination revealed disk and macula sparing retinochoroidal coloboma in both eyes. Left eye showed a single break in the intercalary membrane with subretinal fluid (SRF) extending under the fovea. No other retinal breaks were noted. The patient was treated with pneumatic retinopexy using 0.3 mL of 100% C₃F₈ and postoperative prone positioning for 10 hours/day for 2 weeks. A day later, laser barrage photocoagulation with 810 nm laser was performed along the coloboma margin. Results: On first postoperative day, SRF was reduced. Optical coherence tomography showed decrease in macular cystic changes and SRF. A week later, optical coherence tomography showed further reduction of SRF and vision improved to 6/12. At 8 months, visual acuity was maintained and retina was completely attached. Findings were confirmed on optical coherence tomography, which also showed resolution of the cystoid spaces. Conclusion: Pneumatic retinopexy with laser barrage to coloboma margin can achieve and maintain retinal reattachment in eyes with macula sparing retinochoroidal coloboma with shallow SRF.