Subretinal fluid bleb after successful scleral buckling and cryotherapy for retinal detachment

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics of subretinal fluid (SRF) blebs after successful scleral buckling with cryotherapy as a treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) and to investigate their possible origin. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The incidence of SRF bleb and the temporary aspects associated with the appearance and disappearance of the lesion were analyzed. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to confirm SRF and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was carried out to evaluate choroidal circulation in some of the cases. RESULTS: SRF bleb was observed in 11 (9.3%) of 118 cases with the history of successful scleral buckling and cryotherapy. The lesions were detected 8.7 +/- 5.5 (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) weeks after complete retinal reattachment, and the mean SD period required for the disappearance of the lesion was 4.7 +/- 3.4 months. SRFs were verified by OCT in five cases of macular involvement. ICGA revealed choroidal vascular congestion and hyperpermeability near the lesion in three of four cases, and these vascular abnormalities remained unchanged after the removal of the scleral explant. CONCLUSIONS: SRF bleb after successful RD surgery disappears spontaneously within one year. The origin of the lesion may be associated with choroidal vascular changes resulting from cryotherapy.