ABSTRACT
Viral retinitis caused by cytomegalovirus is the most common ocular opportunistic infection found in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. The repair of retinal detachment in the setting of viral retinitis presents unique challenges to the vitreoretinal surgeon. Widespread retinal necrosis often results in multiple posterior breaks. The choice of surgical technique is determined by the configuration and complexity of the retinal detachment. The typical surgical approach to viral retinitis-related retinal detachment begins with a standard, bimanual, three-port vitrectomy. The high rate of anatomic success cited in the literature is tempered by the lesser proportion of patients achieving ambulatory vision. However, visual results have improved in recent years. Although anatomic reattachment can be achieved in the overwhelming majority of cases using advanced surgical techniques, useful postoperative vision is best correlated with good preoperative visual acuity. Other factors that may be considered include the extent of retinal detachment, the presence of active viral infection, and the overall health of the patient.
