How to Prevent Retinal Shift after Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair: A Prospective, Randomized Study

February 11, 2026
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AUTHORS

Josef Guber, Megir Schawkat, Corina Lang, Hendrik P N Scholl, Christophe Valmaggia

Ophthalmol Retina. 2019 May;3(5):417-421. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.01.010. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intraoperative use of heavy liquid on retinal shift after retinal detachment repair.

DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were included in the current study.

METHODS: Patients were randomized into 2 groups: group A included patients in whom heavy liquid was used during the procedure and group B included patients in whom no heavy liquid was used. Group A and B patients were reviewed after 3 weeks and after 6 weeks, respectively, and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images were obtained to visualize the retinal rotation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Postoperative macular shift, visualized with FAF.

RESULTS: A total of 50 eyes from 49 patients were included. Overall, retinal shift was observed in 17 patients (34%). Patients in whom heavy liquid was used during the procedure showed significantly less macular shift after surgery (P = 0.049). There was a strong association between retinal shift and postoperative symptoms of metamorphopsia. Ten of 17 patients with retinal shift reported distorted vision (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of intraoperative heavy liquid seems to be associated with lower occurrence of retinal shift after retinal detachment repair.

PMID:31044733 | DOI:10.1016/j.oret.2019.01.010

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