PURPOSE: To show the efficacy of ambulatory binocular occlusion in the management of vitreous hemorrhage and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: Nine eyes with a vitreous hemorrhage, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, or both were managed initially by ambulatory binocular occlusion before the definitive treatment of the underlying cause was carried out. RESULTS: In four eyes with a vitreous hemorrhage of rhegmatogenous origin, binocular occlusion resulted in sufficient clearing of the media to allow visualization and treatment of the breaks. In another four eyes with a rhegmatogenous detachment, binocular occlusion reduced the extent of the detachment and made possible a less morbid solution than initially planned. In one eye with a vitreous hemorrhage of diabetic origin, binocular occlusion enabled panretinal photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: The benefit of binocular occlusion can be obtained on an outpatient regimen that permits moderate ambulation.
