External subretinal drainage, bevacizumab, and scleral buckling for complete exudative retinal detachment after photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Total serous retinal detachment after laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity is an infrequent type of retinal detachment in preterm babies. PURPOSE: To describe the successful outcome for treatment by scleral drainage, bevacizumab, and scleral buckling for complete serous exudative retinal detachment in a patient with retinopathy of prematurity. METHODS: A preterm baby with primary pulmonary hypertension under treatment with sildenafil developed a total (retrolental) serous retinal detachment after photocoagulation for threshold retinopathy. The dense subretinal fluid was externally drained using a bent needle with an infusion placed in the anterior chamber. Additional bevacizumab and scleral buckling helped to control the plus disease and subretinal leakage. RESULTS: Retinal apposition was obtained with the described approach. CONCLUSION: Total serous retinal detachment is a rare but severe visual complication in retinopathy of prematurity. The described technique may restore the retinae immediately in a visually critical period.