Background and objective: Macular involvement is considered a poor prognostic factor for visual recovery after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. Few prior studies report outcomes longer than 2 years after repair with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or combined PPV/scleral buckle (SB). The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term (at least 5 years) visual outcomes following fovea-involving RRD repair with PPV or PPV/SB.
Patients and methods: This retrospective case series evaluated eyes that underwent fovea-involving RRD repair with PPV or PPV/SB. Eyes with single surgery anatomic success and 5 years or more of follow-up were included. Eyes with other ophthalmic pathology affecting central vision were excluded. Paired analysis compared changes in best visual acuity (BVA) between two timepoints.
Results: Fifty-one eyes were included. Median (interquartile range, IQR) time to final follow-up was 7 (IQR: 3) years. Median pre-operatively BVA was 19.95 (IQR: 41.25) letters and improved to 80.15 (IQR:15.05) letters and 80.16 (IQR: 8.80) letters at the 1-year and final follow-up, respectively (P < 0.001). Thirteen of 45 eyes (28.89%) had an improvement in BVA of at least 10 letters from the 1-year to the final follow-up. Average BVA was 20/40 or better in 35/45 eyes (75.56%) at 1-year and 45/51 eyes (88.24%) at final follow-up. No eye had an average BVA of 20/200 or worse at final follow-up.
Conclusions: Patients with fovea-involving RRD successfully repaired with PPV or PPV/SB have favorable long-term visual acuity outcomes. BVA may continue to significantly improve even beyond 1 year after surgery. The majority of patients have a BVA of 20/40 or better 5 years after surgery. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2022;53:674-680.].