Encircling Laser Prophylaxis for Retinal Detachment in Stickler Syndrome: The Impact on Visual Field.

Cohort studyClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)· 2026

Encircling Laser Prophylaxis for Retinal Detachment in Stickler Syndrome: The Impact on Visual Field.

Donald C Fletcher, Ronald A Schuchard, Robert E Morris, Ferenc Kuhn

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RetinaCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 2.6

Encircling laser prophylaxis for Stickler syndrome caused only minor peripheral field loss

Encircling Laser Prophylaxis for Retinal Detachment in Stickler Syndrome: The Impact on Visual Field.

Donald C Fletcher … Ferenc Kuhn

Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026 · Q1 in Ophthalmology

Purpose

It is our purpose to address concerns regarding visual field loss as a barrier to optimal performance of encircling laser retinopexy as a prophylaxis for retinal detachment, especially when extended posteriorly, as in prophylaxis for retinal detachment in Stickler syndrome (stickler syndrome).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed visual field and visual acuity changes after encircling laser prophylaxis extending to the posterior edge of the vortex vein ampullae (ora secunda cerclage/Stickler syndrome, OSC/stickler syndrome) in our first four stickler syndrome patients who underwent such prophylaxis.

n = 22 patients

Results

field of view shrank only slightly, and vision-related daily tasks stayed unaffected

21%

OSC/SS prophylaxis imp

85%

RD in primary eye impa

More results

Turano and NEI VFQ-25 Questionnaires both indicated that everyday mobility and travel visual tasks were not significantly affected by the laser prophylaxis.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 3

Encircling laser retinopexy, extending posteriorly to and between the vortex vein ampullae, did not cause significant visual disability or any symptomatic visual field loss in an initial cohort of four patients with stickler syndrome.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

Nor did we encounter any symptomatic visual field loss in 22 patients so treated subsequently.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

OSC/stickler syndrome encircling laser prophylaxis safety and effectiveness is now being prospectively studied in a larger clinical trial (NCT07146516).

Encircling Laser Prophylaxis for Retinal Detachment in Stickler Syndrome: The Impact on Visual Field.

Encircling Laser Prophylaxis for Retinal Detachment in Stickler Syndrome: The Impact on Visual Field.

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