Lattice Degeneration

Lattice degeneration can lead to retinal breaks. If considering Lasik, an evaluation by a vitreoretinal specialist may be wise.

Lattice degeneration of the retina may be a contraindication for conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, and Epi-Lasik. Lattice degeneration will normally not automatically exclude a patient from PRK, LASEK, and P-IOL, but can be problematic.  Any retina problem can be a major concern for RLE. Patients with myopic (nearsighted, shortsighted) vision are at a greater risk than patients who are hyperopic (farsighted, longsighted). Any patient with a history of retina problems of any kind should be fully evaluated by a vitreoretinal specialist before having elective eye surgery.

Lattice degeneration is a hereditary vitreoretinal degeneration. Lattice is an important consideration when contemplating elective elective surgery because it can lead to retinal breaks and retinal detachment; each can cause permanent vision loss. The myopic eye is elongated and places stress on the retina. The significant additional stress on the retina during Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, Epi-Lasik, and RLE would make these procedures the least ideal. Although there is less retinal stress with PRK, LASEK, and P-IOLs, surgery may be best avoided.

Lattice causes many changes in the eye, including retinal thinning at the outer edges and retina hole formation. The size and location of lattice degeneration varies tremendously. One or both eyes may be involved. There is no specific treatment for lattice degeneration, but high risk atrophic holes or breaks can be treated by cryothermy, laser photocoagulation, or diathermy. The use of a laser to stabilize the holes is probably most common.

Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?

If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, or any refractive surgery procedure, we recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization. Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Doctor.

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Recent Lattice Degeneration Medical Journal Articles...

Related Articles

Characterization of pneumatic retinopexy failures and the pneumatic pump: a new complication of pneumatic retinopexy.

Retina. 2014 Apr;34(4):700-4

Authors: Gorovoy IR, Eller AW, Friberg TR, Coe R

Abstract
BACKGROUND: We review a three-year series of cases with pneumatic retinopexy (PR), specifically evaluating failures and suggesting a new mechanism of failure.
METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent PR for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments were included. The primary outcome measure was the characteristics of PR failures. Secondary outcome measures included preoperative clinical characteristics.
RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of the patients had successful results with PR; 100% were ultimately reattached with additional surgery. All but 1 failure (97%) occurred within the first postoperative month and 85% occurred by postoperative Day 10. The most common cause of failure was a new detachment from a new break (23 of 35 failures). Risk factors for failure included presenting visual acuity worse than 20/60 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.89), male gender (OR = 1.52), age >60 years (OR = 1.32), >2 breaks (OR = 1.28), pseudophakia/aphakia (OR = 1.20), and detachments after trabeculectomy (OR = 2.43). Lattice degeneration, high myopia (>-6.00 diopters), left eye, detachment after cataract surgery or yttrium aluminum garnet capsulotomy had minimal influence on outcome (all OR < 1.10).
CONCLUSION: Characterization of PR failures will improve patient selection. We have named a new complication secondary to a patient performing the steamroller maneuver five times the "pneumatic pump."

PMID: 24263467 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]