Cyanoacrylate glue in the repair of retinal detachment associated with posterior retinal breaks in infants and children.

PURPOSE To share the authors' experience with cyanoacrylate glue in posterior retinal breaks associated with retinal detachments in infants and children. METHODS A retrospective study was performed of four consecutive pediatric patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment associated with posterior retinal breaks, for which cyanoacrylate glue was used. RESULTS In three of the four patients, successful retinal reattachment with visual function was achieved by vitreoretinal surgery and cyanoacrylate placed on the apposed edges of posterior retinal breaks or used to plug a break (postoperative follow-up was 1.5-2 years). In two successful cases, the glue was applied onto the break while the retina was detached, which resulted in closure of the retinal breaks and reattachment of the retina in both cases. CONCLUSIONS Cyanoacrylate creates a permanent closure of retinal breaks and may be useful in select cases of infant retinal detachment with posterior retinal breaks in which current available treatment failed or would fail.