Today, pneumatic retinopexy is a rarely used technique and is applied in very few cases. The reliability and effectiveness of retinal detachment repair using posterior vitrectomy techniques, combined or not with scleral surgery, are far superior and have a lower rate of redetachment.
Pneumatic retinopexy is a surgical procedure used to correct retinal detachment.
This treatment involves injecting a small amount of a specific gas at a certain concentration into the vitreous cavity. The gas bubble expands inside the eye over the first few hours, allowing the retina to be repositioned and the tear causing the detachment to be treated with laser photocoagulation.
After the procedure, the patient must maintain their head in a specific position for several days to ensure the gas fulfills its function. It is recommended that, for several weeks, the patient avoid traveling to high-altitude locations or flying, as a decrease in atmospheric pressure may cause uncontrolled gas bubble expansion, leading to complications.
After a few weeks, the gas is spontaneously absorbed, and the retina remains sealed.