International ophthalmology
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We report on 17 consecutive cases of retinal detachment due to macular hole surgically treated by one of the authors (S. B.) between the fall of 1982 and 1985. The standard method used was pars plana vitrectomy and intraocular air tamponade. ⋯ Vitrectomy and gas tamponade alone, without coagulation, constitute the safest and most sparing treatment of this type of retinal detachment. Unfortunately, approximately one half of these cases require subsequent additional photocoagulation because of renewed accumulation of subretinal fluid. In about one fourth of macular hole retinal detachments, however, lasting reattachment is achieved only by silicone oil tamponade following initial vitrectomy and air/gas tamponade.