INTRAVITREAL GAS INJECTION WITH LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION FOR HIGHLY MYOPIC FOVEOSCHISIS: Technique and Outcome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of gas tamponade combined with laser photocoagulation without vitrectomy in patients with highly myopic foveoschisis. METHODS: This retrospective noncomparative case series included 30 eyes of 23 patients with highly myopic foveoschisis who were treated by intravitreal injection of 0.5 to 0.7 mL C(3)F(8) combined with laser photocoagulation 1 week later, and remained in the face-down position for 3 weeks. The patients were followed up for at least 6 months after the treatment. The refractive status, best-corrected visual acuity, and anatomical parameters of retina observed with the optical coherence tomography before and after the treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the 23 patients (6 men and 17 women) was 50.4 ± 15.1 years. The average follow-up duration was 20.8 ± 20.6 months. At the final follow-up, 23 eyes (76.7%) completely (17 eyes) or partially (6 eyes) resolved. Seventeen eyes had complete data of optical coherence tomography parameters, the mean central foveal thickness decreased significantly from 505.24 ± 466.22 μm to 186.41 ± 95.36 μm (P = 0.01), and the mean maximal macular thickness from 687.88 ± 397.00 μm to 313.65 ± 83.07 μm (P = 0.001). The mean final logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (Snellen equivalent) of the 30 eyes ranged from 1.6 (20/800) to 0.2 (20/32), showing a slight improvement from 0.91 ± 0.44 (20/163) preoperatively to 0.90 ± 0.39 (20/160) postoperatively (P = 0.87). CONCLUSION: C(3)F(8) tamponade combined with laser photocoagulation could be an alternative treatment for highly myopic foveoschisis.