Primary Retinal Detachment

Preface
I wish to express my gratitude to the experts in retinal and vitreous
surgery who were generous enough to provide chapters for this
book.
The book aims to enable the retinal and vitreous surgeon to
participate in the ongoing discussion regarding the best surgical
technique for primary retinal detachment. The chapters of the book
are written by experts in the field. Four separate chapters describe
the four principle techniques available for repair of primary retinal
detachment at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Attention
is given to pharmaceutical interventions that might improve surgical
outcome.
Each of the four surgical techniques can be successful in the
hands of an expert on the procedure. The difference lies in postoperative
morbidity, rate of reoperation and long-term visual function.
Chapter 9 takes up the preceding chapters and presents an
example of a primary three quadrant detachment with one break
treated by each of the four surgical techniques. The reader is invited
to draw his or her own conclusion about which procedure is
the better one and what to do and what not to do.
The last chapter, subtitled “Outlook for the Future”, represents
speculation about future developments in the field of retinal detachment
surgery.
The book is intended as a “hands-on” guide for the retina and
vitreous surgeon who is confronted with a primary retinal detachment
and wishes to select a surgical technique with a minimum of
morbidity and an optimum of long-term visual outcome.