Health

Revolutionary Retinotomy Technique: Dr. Tarek Hassan's Game-Changer in PVR Management

2025-05-23

Author: Daniel

A New Era in Eye Surgery

At the prestigious Retina World Congress 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Tarek S. Hassan, a renowned MD and professor of ophthalmology at Oakland University, unveiled a groundbreaking approach to combat proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) that could redefine retinal surgery as we know it.

Straying from Tradition

During a compelling Q&A session, Dr. Hassan discussed his innovative technique, which employs serial relaxing retinotomies. Traditionally, surgeons resort to extensive retinectomies, incising large sections of the retina to alleviate traction. Dr. Hassan challenges this long-held belief, noting that existing methods often involve significant retina removal to address tangential traction.

The Science Behind the Technique

Dr. Hassan's approach is rooted in a crucial revelation: the understanding of intraretinal scarring, which can begin just one day post-retinal detachment, is pivotal. This fibroblastic glial tissue proliferates within the retina, creating complex traction lines that do not follow the traditional patterns thought to connect the periphery to the optic nerve.

Precision Over Cuts

Instead of performing large circumlinear retinectomies, Dr. Hassan suggests the use of multiple small retinotomies strategically placed to relieve traction without extensive tissue removal. By retaining most of the anterior retina and flattening the retinal surface in an innovative manner, the technique promotes a faster recovery while minimizing complications.

Promising Outcomes

The results so far have been impressive. Dr. Hassan reported that all patients treated within the past year have experienced successful recoveries with no recurrence of PVR and no hypotony—a common complication in traditional surgeries. This method offers a remarkable reduction in surgery-related trauma, requiring far less retina removal while achieving similar anatomical goals.

A Vision for the Future

Dr. Hassan’s technique could herald a shift in the way ophthalmologists approach PVR, underscoring the mantra that sometimes, less truly is more. As ongoing research expands on these findings, this innovative retinotomy method could soon become the new gold standard in retinal surgery, offering hope and improved outcomes for countless patients.