This patient’s Optos image demonstrates a large retinal hole and retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
Learning Points:
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), consisting of growth of cellular membranes on either retinal surface, develops in about 5-10% of retinal detachments. The membranes contract and foreshorten the retina, likely resulting from an aberrant wound-healing response.
There are no pharmacologic therapies to prevent or treat PVR. These complex detachments can be managed with vitrectomy with membrane peeling, retinectomy, scleral buckling, and silicone oil. However, PVR remains the main cause for ultimate retinal reattachment surgical failure.
See Garweg et al Surv Ophthalmol 2013;48:321-329 for a good review of PVR pathophysiology.
