Giant Pigment Epithelial Tear After Scleral Buckling for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

In Brief Purpose: To describe a patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who developed a giant tear of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) after scleral buckling. Patient: A 64-year-old man with RRD underwent scleral buckling and cryoretinopexy on his right eye. Results: A #506 silicone sponge was placed on the exit of the three vortex vein to seal retinal tears. On the 3rd postoperative day, a choroidal detachment appeared, and on the 10th postoperative day, a large RPE developed at the posterior edge of the choroidal detachment. One month later, the entire retina was completely attached without any treatment. Conclusions: Ophthalmic surgeons should be aware that an RPE tear can be associated with choroidal detachment after scleral buckling. A giant tear of the retinal pigment epithelium developed after scleral buckling in a case of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. We suggest that this was due to disturbance of the choroidal circulation caused by the silicone sponge placed on the three vortex veins.