gms | German Medical Science

Background: The main difficulty of episcleral buckling surgery is the mastering of indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy.

Purpose: To introduce a new technique to visualize the retina for buckling surgery.

Patients and methods: A 25G chandelier light fiber was inserted at pars plana into the sclera. The retina was visualized with a regular Biom system. This technique was compared with indirect binocular opthalmoscopy.

Results: Using the Biom system the posterior segment was easier to examine and retinal tears were faster found than compared with indirect opthalmoscopy. All small holes were found with the Biom system. In contrast, a few times (n=2) small holes were missed with indirect opthalmoscopy. In addition, the suturing of the sponge was easier with the microsope than with the helmet.

Conclusions: Retinal tears are easier and faster to detect with the Biom system than with indirect opthalmoscopy. In addition, the Biom system is easier to master than indirect binocular opthalmoscopy. This novel technique facilitates episleral buckling surgery and improves the surgical outcome.