Simultaneous external subretinal fluid drainage and intravitreal gas injection in nonvitrectomized eyes with a special 27-gauge needle

S. M. Meyers, H. Zegarra, D. M. Nguyen and G. J. Skipper

In 12 patients with retinal detachment requiring a scleral buckle, simultaneous external subretinal fluid drainage, and intravitreal gas injection were performed to prevent "fishmouthed" retinal breaks in six patients and to achieve more complete drainage of subretinal fluid in six others with chronic inferior detachments. To simplify this technique in all of these nonvitrectomized eyes, we used a special 27-gauge needle sutured to the sclera.