Purpose: To investigate the usefulness of transscleral diathermy for the treatment of retinal detachment due to breaks located at the posterior pole in areas of advanced chorioretinal atrophy or staphyloma in highly myopic eyes.
Methods: We reviewed the charts of seven consecutive patients who were operated on between 1984 and 1994 and for whom transscleral diathermy was used during intraocular retinal reattachment surgery to reduce posterior staphyloma. Mean refraction of the seven eyes was -24 diopters (range -16 to -35 diopters).
Results: After surgery, which included diathermy, the retina was reattached in six eyes (86%) that also had undergone vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade, but remained detached in one eye (14%) that had undergone pneumopexy and diathermy; in this eye, the retina was subsequently reattached after vitrectomy and silicone oil injection. Silicone oil was removed from all seven eyes after a mean duration of 2.5 months. During a mean follow-up of 3 years, a recurrent retinal detachment developed in one eye 8 months after silicone oil removal. This retina was reattached after reinjection of silicone oil.
Conclusions: In the treatment of retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes, closure of posterior holes in areas of advanced chorioretinal atrophy or staphyloma can be achieved by transscleral diathermy in conjunction with vitrectomy and temporary silicone oil tamponade. The main benefit of transscleral diathermy results from its posterior pole scleral buckling effect due to shrinkage of the sclera.