Objective: To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of partial thickness sclerectomies to treat exudative retinal detachment secondary to choroidal hemangioma, non-suitable with photodynamic therapy in a 5-year-old child with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Methods: A 5 year-old child presented exudative retinal detachment secondary to choroidal subfoveal diffuse hemangioma. The child was non-compliant to undergo a photodynamic therapy. A partial thickness sclerectomy was made in each quadrant under general anesthesia.

Results: The retina was re-attached with improvement in vision from 20/400 to 20/80. Two years after primary surgery, the retinal detachment relapsed. Drainage of the subretinal fluid was obtained by the revision of the sclerectomies. After obtaining retinal reattachment, photodynamic therapy was applied to treat the hemangioma. No complications were reported after treatment.

Conclusions: Sclerectomies may be considered an efficient and safe surgical option for the management of exudative retinal detachment secondary to choroidal hemangioma in patients non-suitable for photodynamic therapy, waiting for photodynamic therapy to be practicable directly on the hemangioma.