Surgical Treatment of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in the Only Seeing Eye

Overview

Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the anatomical and functional success of surgical treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in the only remaining seeing eye.

Material and methods: The study included 28 eyes of 28 patients, 19 (68%) of whom were men, with an average age of 46 years. They were operated on by a single surgeon for RRD at the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, from July 1, 2019, to April 30, 2023, using cryosurgical techniques and/or 25G+ pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). In 11 patients, 25G+ PPV was performed with the application of a pre-equatorial cerclage. The Blunt ocular trauma and uncomplicated cataract surgery with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens were admissible within the patient histories. The cause of RRD was retinal tear(s) regardless of their number and location. The transparency of the anterior segment of the eye enabled reliable visualization of the posterior segment. Preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grades A-D2 were acceptable. Patients with a history of penetrating eye injury were excluded. Patients were evaluated 1-3 months after the performance of PPV. The surgery was considered anatomically successful if the retina was completely reattached. Each patient's final visual acuity (VA) was assessed using a Snellen chart. Numerical results were expressed as arithmetic means and percentages. Since the different groups were not compared, no statistical tests were needed.

Results: Retinal reattachment was achieved in 27 patients (97%), while 1 patient (3%) experienced retinal detachment, resulting in anatomical failure of the treatment. 9 patients (32%) achieved VA ≥ 4/8.

Conclusion: We consider cryosurgical techniques using episclerally fixed cerclage bands and buckles, 25G+ PPV, and possibly a combination thereof, to be suitable methods for treating RRD in the only remaining seeing eye.

Keywords:

Visual acuity – rhegmatogenous retinal detachment