Primary Retinal Detachment
Primary Retinal Detachment
Primary Retinal Detachment
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26<br />
2 Prophylaxis in Fellow Eye of <strong>Primary</strong> <strong>Retinal</strong> <strong>Detachment</strong><br />
broad assumptions which were as follows: (1) the occurrence of<br />
bilateral retinal detachment was thought to be in the range of<br />
20–50% of patients who had suffered a primary detachment, (2)<br />
the associated pre-existing “suspect” retinal lesions were thought<br />
to represent the precursor sites from which retinal tears would<br />
later arise, and (3) the pretreatment of these pre-existing visible<br />
retinal lesions was thought to prevent later retinal tears and detachment.<br />
This thinking, which was believed to justify the concept of<br />
“prophylactic”treatment, was greatly advanced and crystallized in<br />
the 1950s by the bringing together of two important developments<br />
in ophthalmology. The first of these was the popularization by<br />
Schepens [1] of a definitive method of retinal examination, using<br />
binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy combined with simultaneous<br />
localized scleral indentation. This method opened the possibility<br />
of examining in detail all areas of the retina in multiple, stereoscopically<br />
viewed images. This development was a vast advance<br />
over previous methods and eventually led to the accurate characterization<br />
of various peripheral retinal lesions and to the quantitative<br />
collection of natural history data that had previously remained<br />
unknown.<br />
The second very significant event that influenced the thinking<br />
regarding “prophylactic” treatment was the invention by Meyer-<br />
Schwickerath [2] of an effective method to deliver controlled photocoagulation<br />
energy to the retina to produce discrete retinal<br />
burns which later became converted into small scars.<br />
The concurrence of these two events had the momentous effect<br />
of opening up the vastly improved possibilities of finding and of<br />
treating many peripheral retinal lesions which heretofore had remained<br />
hidden. In a relatively short time, as the result of very successful<br />
promotion and distribution, photocoagulation instruments<br />
became available throughout the world. It is very easy to understand,<br />
based on the uncritical acceptance of the previously mentioned<br />
three assumptions, that a new “standard of care” soon<br />
emerged throughout the world that prevention of retinal detach-