Introduction

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the frequency and intensity of the disturbances of the eye position and motility in patients after scleral buckling surgery due to retinal detachment, treated in Ophthalmology Clinic in Poznań. Additionally the aim was to diagnose the reason for muscles damage by means of the Hess screen.

Material and methods

Seventy patients were treated with this method between 2007-2009 and the study group was built by 40 patients, treated in average 15 months before the examination, at the age 12-79 years (mean age 55 years and 8 months). The correlation between the location of retinal holes treated with cryotherapy, the type of surgery and the changes in eye position and motility or diplopia in clinical evaluation and on the Hess screen, were evaluated.

Results

The disturbances of eye motility in clinical evaluation was diagnosed in 10 eyes (25% cases), and on the Hess screen in 16 eyes (40% cases). We noted, that the damaged muscle (overacting or weakened), was localized always on the site of cryotherapy or in the area at three o’ clock from the retinal hole.

Conclusions

1. Patients during visual rehabilitation after scleral buckling surgery should be controlled for eye motility disturbances and diplopia. 2. The percentage of eye motility disturbances in our study group was comparable to this presented in literature, but higher in evaluation by means of Hess screen. 3. Accidental cryotherapy of the muscle, causing its weakening or overaction, seems to be a particular risk factor of extraocular muscles function disturbances.