Montgomery and informed consent during Covid-19: Pneumatic retinopexy versus pars plana vitrectomy or scleral buckling for retinal detachment repair.

Recent reports suggest that the use of an outpatient-based procedure (pneumatic retinopexy, PR) for retinal detachment repair should be encouraged within the UK, especially in light of Covid-19 and possible restrictions/competing demands on access to operating theatres. It is therefore essential that patients receive comprehensive information about the risks and benefits of this approach compared with a formal surgical repair either by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and/or scleral buckling (SB). We report a retrospective case series of retinal detachments (RD) satisfying the strict selection criteria for PR but who were managed with formal surgery. Single-operation success rate for PPV/SB at six months follow-up was 93.8% in our study, higher than published primary success rates for PR (60-80%). When counselling patients for possible PR, the ease, speed and potentially reduced co-morbidity of an outpatient-based procedure needs to be balanced against its significantly higher failure rate in comparison with primary PPV/SB.

Timing and Reoperation Rate of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments Occurring During Major Ophthalmology Meetings.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether surgical management of newly diagnosed rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) varies if patients are diagnosed during a major national ophthalmology conference. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 34,759 patients with incident RRD, of whom, 1,246 (3.6%) were diagnosed during dates of three national ophthalmology conferences, and 1,170 (3.4%) underwent surgery during conference dates. The authors identified patients with primary repair with cryotherapy, laser, scleral buckle, pneumatic retinopexy, or pars plana vitrectomy. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine patients' likelihood of receiving each type of repair within 30 days of their diagnosis depending on whether they were diagnosed during a national ophthalmology conference. Linear regression models were used to determine the relationship between the date patients were diagnosed and how long they waited to receive a repair. Main outcome measures included days between diagnosis with RRD and RRD repair, receiving repair on the same day of diagnosis, and reoperation rate within 30 days of the primary repair. RESULTS: Mean time from diagnosis to repair was 1.5 days (standard deviation: ± 2.4 days), and 71% of patients underwent repair within a day of diagnosis. Repairs were followed by a second surgery within 30 days in 11.1% of patients. Patients diagnosed during conferences waited 0.23 days longer between diagnosis and repair compared with patients diagnosed outside of conference dates (P = .001). Patients diagnosed with RRD during conferences were less likely to receive surgical repair within a day of diagnosis compared to patients diagnosed during non-conference dates (P = .037). Patients who were diagnosed with RRD during a conference date and also received surgery during a conference date were more likely to undergo a second surgery within 30 days of the primary procedure (P = .006) CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with RRD during national ophthalmology conference dates waited slightly longer for surgery, were slightly less likely to receive surgery within a day, and were more likely to undergo a second surgery within 30 days of the primary procedure. The "national meeting effect" phenomenon is present in ophthalmology, albeit to a lesser degree that is likely not visually significant. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2020;51:328-337.].

[Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in young adults: Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes]. / Décollement de rétine rhegmatogène chez l'adulte jeune : caractéristiques cliniques et résultats chirurgicaux.

PURPOSE: To report the causes, clinical features and surgical outcomes of retinal detachment (RD) in young adults. METHODS: Retrospective study of 111 eyes of 99 patients aged between 18 and 40 years, who underwent primary RD surgery between January 2011 and January 2019. All patients underwent either scleral buckling or pars plana vitrectomy. We analyzed the demographic data, characteristics of the RD, primary and final anatomic success rate and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the conclusion of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 30.3±6.5 years. RD was more frequent in males, with a gender ratio of 1.8. The breaks were atrophic round holes or retinal dialysis in 49 (44.2%) cases and were associated with posterior vitreous detachment in 62 (55.8%) cases. The main etiologies were high myopia (45.0%) and trauma (9.0%). Retinal reattachment was achieved in 74 (66.5%) eyes overall with a single procedure and in 108 (97.2%) eyes with two or more procedures. The primary success rates were 69.6% (46/66 eyes) with scleral buckling and 62.2% (28/45 eyes) with vitrectomy. High myopia was a risk factor for surgical failure (P<0.01). The mean BCVA improved from 0.71±0.64 logMAR to 0.41±0.35 logMAR (P<0.01) CONCLUSION: RD in young adults differs from that in older adults in clinical features and etiology. The main causes are trauma and high myopia. The anatomic outcomes appear less favorable, with a primary reattachment rate of 66.5%. However, the functional prognosis remains satisfactory with an improvement of 3 lines of visual acuity.

Pars plana vitrectomy versus scleral buckling for repairing simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.

BACKGROUND: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a separation of neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium. It is caused by retinal tears, which let fluid pass from the vitreous cavity to the subretinal space. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling surgery and pneumatic retinopexy are three accepted management strategies whose efficacy remains controversial. Pneumatic retinopexy is considered in a separate Cochrane Review. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this review was to assess the efficacy of PPV versus scleral buckling for the treatment of simple RRD (primary RRD of any extension with up to two clock hours large break(s) regardless of their anterior/posterior localisation) in people with (phakia) or without (aphakia) a natural lens in the eye, or with an artificial lens (pseudophakia). A secondary objective was to assess any data on economic and quality-of-life measures. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register; MEDLINE; Embase; LILACS; the ISRCTN registry; ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO ICTRP. The date of the search was 5 December 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PPV versus scleral buckling surgery with at least three months of follow-up. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methodology. Two review authors independently extracted the data and study characteristics from the studies identified as eligible after initial screening. We considered the following outcomes: primary retinal reattachment, postoperative visual acuity, final anatomical success, recurrence of retinal detachment, number of interventions needed to achieve final anatomical success, quality of life and adverse effects. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS: This review included 10 RCTs (1307 eyes of 1307 participants) from Europe, India, Iran, Japan and Mexico, which compared PPV and scleral buckling for RRD repair. Two of these 10 studies compared PPV combined with scleral buckling with scleral buckling alone (54 participants). All studies were high or unclear risk of bias on at least one domain. Five studies were funded by non-commercial sources, while the other five studies did not report source of funding.There was little or no difference in the proportion of participants who achieved retinal reattachment at least 3 months after the operation in the PPV group compared to those in the scleral buckling group (risk ratio (RR) 1.07, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.98 to 1.16; 9 RCTs, 1261 participants, low-certainty evidence). Approximately 67 in every 100 people treated with scleral buckling had retinal reattachment by 3 to 12 months. Treatment with PPV may result in 4 more people with retinal reattachment in every 100 people treated (95% confidence interval (CI) 2 fewer to 11 more).There was no evidence of any important difference in postoperative visual acuity between participants in the PPV group compared to those in the scleral buckling group (mean difference (MD) 0.00 logMAR, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.10, 6 RCTs, 1138 participants, low-certainty evidence).There was little or no difference in final anatomical success between participants in the PPV group and scleral buckling group (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.04, 9 RCTs, 1235 participants, low-certainty evidence). There were 94 out of 100 people treated with control (scleral buckling) that achieved final anatomical success compared to 96 out of 100 in the PPV group.Retinal redetachment was reported in fewer participants in the PPV group compared to the scleral buckling group (RR 0.75 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.96, 9 RCTs, 1320 participants, low-certainty evidence). Approximately 28 in every 100 people treated with scleral buckling had retinal detachment by 3 to 36 months. Treatment with PPV may result in seven fewer people with retinal detachment in every 100 people treated (95% CI 1 to 11 fewer).Participants treated with PPV on average needed fewer interventions to achieve final anatomical success but the difference was small and data were skewed (MD -0.20, 95% CI -0.34 to -0.06, 2 RCTs, 682 participants, very low-certainty evidence).Very low-certainty evidence on quality of life suggested that more people in the PPV group were "satisfied with vision" compared with the scleral buckling group (RR 6.22, 95% CI 0.88 to 44.09, 1 RCT, 32 participants).All included studies reported adverse effects, however, it was not always clear whether they were reported as number of participants or number of adverse effects. Cataract development or progression was more prevalent in the PPV group (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.01), choroidal detachment was more prevalent in the scleral buckling group (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.65) and new/iatrogenic breaks were observed only in the PPV group (RR 8.21, 95% CI 1.91 to 35.21). Estimates of the relative frequency of other adverse effects, including postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy, postoperative increase in intraocular pressure, development of cystoid macular oedema, macular pucker and strabismus were imprecise. Evidence for adverse effects was low-certainty evidence. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Low- or very low-certainty evidence indicates that there may be little or no difference between PPV and scleral buckling in terms of primary success rate, visual acuity gain and final anatomical success in treating primary RRD. Low-certainty evidence suggests that there may be less retinal redetachment in the PPV group. Some adverse events appeared to be more common in the PPV group, such as cataract progression and new iatrogenic breaks, whereas others were more commonly seen in the scleral buckling group such as choroidal detachment.

Atrophic tear retinal detachment: clinical characteristics and surgical treatment results at long term.

AIM: to analyse clinical and epidemiological characteristics of atrophic tear retinal detachment (ATRD) and evaluate anatomical and functional results. METHODS: Retrospective study of 48 cases underwent primary scleral buckling for ATRD. Mean follow up was 80,52 months. RESULTS: ATRD represented 7% of all reghmatogenous RD. Mean age of patients was 38 years and 7 months. Age was less than 40 years in 62,5% of patients. Male predominance was noted. Myopia was noted in 67% of cases and 78,12% presented high myopia. Mean delay of consultation was 7 months ranging from 1 and 60 months. Visual acuity was ranged between light perception to 10/10. The AT number in eye varied between1 to 15 (mean 3 tears). The seat of AT was preferentially in inferior temporal quadrants than superior one. Maculae was detached in 87,5% of cases. All patients underwent scleral buckling: longitudinal buckle was performed in 27% of cases, radial sponge was put on in 8,3% of eyes and circumferential one was made in 64,5% of cases. Sub-retinal fluid was punctured in 75% od cases. Retinal reattachment was obtained in all cases; after one surgery in 95,83% of cases. Redetachment was observed in 2 cases: it was linked with unknown AT. Visual acuity was improved in 83,3% of cases. It was more than 5/10 in 14,6% of cases. Postoperative hypertonia was observed in 18,75% of cases. Choroidal detachment was observed in one case and it was resolved spontaneously. Scleral bukle rejection was observed in one case. CONCLUSION: ATRD was not associated at posterior vitreous detachment. It was observed in young myopic patients. There is a chronic form of retinal detachment with many tears. Scleral buckle was the surgical treatment of this type of RD with good anatomical prognostic.

A review of scleral buckle procedures performed at a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan.

This retrospective study was done to evaluate the visual and anatomic outcomes of scleral buckling for the repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). All scleral buckle procedures performed at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from May 1999 to April 2012 were included. A total of 75 eyes of 72 patients were studied. The mean age of patients at surgery was 33.0±17.2 years. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity (VA) was 0.9±0.8 pre-operatively and 0.5±0.6 at 1 year (p=0.018). At baseline, 27(36%) eyes had a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/50 or better, while at 1 year after surgery 47(63.5%) eyes had BCVA of 20/50 or better. Retina had successfully attached after first attempt in 70(93.3%) cases. Scleral buckling for the repair of RRD resulted in a high anatomical success rate as well as significant improvement in visual acuity.

Epidemiologic characteristics of retinal detachment surgery at a specialized unit in Denmark.

PURPOSE: To examine the incidence of retinal detachments and to evaluate patient profiles and surgical characteristics. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients operated for primary retinal detachment (RD) and redetachment between 2010 and 2012 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. We included all RD such as rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), tractional retinal detachment (TRD) and exudative retinal detachment (ERD). RESULTS: In total, 779 RD surgeries were performed: 83.7% (n = 652) primary operations and 16.3% (n = 127) reoperation. For primary operation, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling and combined operations were performed in 95.1% (n = 620), 4.6% (n = 30) and 0.3% (n = 2) respectively. Over time there was less use of silicone oil and greater use of gas tamponade (p = <0.001), less simultaneous cataract operations (p = <0.001), less use of cryotherapy (p = 0.045) and more use of peeling procedures (p = <0.001) in primary operations. The annual incidence of surgery for primary RD was 22.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 20.4-23.8] per 100 000 inhabitants aged >15 years. Retinal detachment (RD) was more common in males than females (1.8:1), and mean age at presentation was 61.8 years (standard deviations ± 12.3). The annual incidence for RRD and TRD operation was 20.72 (95% CI 19.11-22.43) and 1.25 (95% CI 0.9-1.7) per 100 000 inhabitants >15 years. CONCLUSION: This study presents the first overall incidence for RD in Denmark. The highest incidence of RRD was among males aged 60 to 79 years, whereas TRD was among females at same age. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was the preferred surgical technique, and during 2012 all RD patients were treated with PPV, independent of lens status and age.

Incidence and Surgical Management of Simultaneous Bilateral Retinal Detachment.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous bilateral retinal detachment (RD) is very rare and its incidence has not been very well characterised. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of RD cases treated at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital between 1999 and 2010. RESULTS: Over the 11 year period, 10 patients (20 eyes) with simultaneous bilateral RD were identified (average incidence among RD= 0.9 %). Mean age: 46.4 ± 17.6 years, with a M : F Ratio of 6 : 4. Pseudophakia was present in 10 eyes and myopia ≥-5.0 dioptres in 11 eyes. Visual symptoms were unilateral in 7 patients, bilateral in 2 patients and absent in one patient. RD was macula-on in 15 eyes and macula-off in 5 eyes. Atrophic holes were present in 11 eyes, U-tears in 6 eyes and a combination in 3 eyes. Primary surgery consisted of buckle surgery (11 eyes), vitrectomy (6 eyes) and combines technique (3 eyes). The final anatomical success rate was 100 %. Mean follow-up time was 22.7 ± 4.95 months. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bilateral simultaneous RD appears to be very low and surgical success rates are excellent. Bilateral pre-operative dilated fundoscopy is mandatory, as the majority of patients have unilateral symptoms.

Ratio of primary episcleral buckling surgery versus primary vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

PURPOSE: To assess the ratio of the frequency of primary scleral buckling procedures versus the frequency of vitrectomies performed as treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in a primary retinal surgical department. METHODS: The study included all patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments who underwent retinal or vitreoretinal surgery in the study period from 2002 to 2006. The size of the retinal defect and the amount of proliferative vitreoretinopathy were not exclusion criteria. Patients with tractional retinal detachment due to proliferative ischemic retinopathies were excluded. RESULTS: In the study period, 875 primary retinal and vitreoretinal surgeries were performed on 875 eyes. Among the surgeries, episcleral sponges (42.9%) formed the largest part, followed by pars plana vitrectomies (35.0%) and encircling bands (22.2%). Combining episcleral sponges and encircling bands into an episcleral surgery group revealed that two thirds (65%) of the surgeries were episcleral interventions. In the episcleral sponge group, the retinal re-detachment rate after the first surgery was 13%. CONCLUSION: In a university department as a primary referral unit for retinal detachments, episcleral retinal surgery can still outnumber vitreoretinal interventions, with retinal re-detachment rates which do not differ markedly from the re-detachment rates reported in randomized trials comparing vitreoretinal surgery with episcleral surgery.

[Optical coherence tomography: anatomic and functional outcome after scleral buckling surgery in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment]. / OCT-, anatomische und funktionelle Ergebnisse nach Plombenchirurgie bei Macula-off rhegmatogener Ablatio retinae.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate results of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with regard to anatomic and functional outcome after scleral buckling surgery (SBS) in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: Medical charts of 87 patients (87 eyes), who underwent SBS for macula off RRD were analysed retrospectively. Patients with follow-up ≥ 6 months were included. Exclusion criteria were giant retinal tears, retinal dialysis, chorioretinal dystrophies, proliferative vitreoretinopathy ≥ grade-C1, schisis detachment and vitreous opacities. Reattachment success rate, pre- and postoperative visual acuity (VA) were examined. Postoperative spectral-domain (SD) OCT images were evaluated. The status of photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) and external limiting memrane (ELM) junction were analysed. Potential risk factors influencing postoperative VA were evaluated by using linear multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The primary anatomic success rate was 93.8 % (81 eyes), final success rate was 98.7 % (86 eyes). Preserved ELM (OR 0.58, p = 0.004) and IS/OS integrity (OR 0.84, p = 0.031), drainage of subretinal fluid (OR 0.42, p < 0.0001) were detected as significant independent factors for influencing postoperative VA favourably. Duration of detachment > 6 days (OR 1.46, p = 0.04), two/three retinal breaks (OR 1.30, OR 1.36, p < 0.0001) were significant independent risk factors for a poor postoperative VA. Severe IS/OS disruption was the most important risk factor for poor postoperative VA (ß 0.724, OR 2.06, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Severe IS/OS disruption may be the most important predictor of postoperative VA after successful surgery in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

[Risk factors for failure of scleral buckling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. A Moroccan series]. / Facteurs d'échec de la chirurgie épisclérale dans le décollement de rétine rhegmatogène. À propos d'une série marocaine.

PURPOSE: To evaluate risk factors for failure of scleral buckling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in an adult Moroccan population. METHODS: A retrospective study of 432 eyes of 422 patients undergoing scleral buckling (SB) for primary RRD between 2001 and 2009 was carried out. Statistical analysis of risk factors for failure was performed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 43 ± 15 years, and 45.4% were myopic. The median recurrence was at 10 months. The final failure rate was 22.5%. Univariate analysis shows that significant risk factors for failure were extent of RRD ≥ 3 quadrants (P<0.001), advanced PVR (P<0.001) and worsening PVR postoperatively (P<0.001). In the multivariate model, the only significant risk factor for failure was the worsening postoperative PVR (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that worsening of PVR after surgery is the major risk factor for failure of SB in RRD. Thus, it is necessary to recognize the risk factors contributing to PVR and to plan the most appropriate, earliest and least traumatic surgical treatment of RRD.

Results of primary buckling procedures indicated with regard to recommendations of the SPR study in cases with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

BACKGROUND: It was the aim of this study to analyse the functional gain and anatomical success rate in a long-term observation of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments treated primarily with scleral buckling (SB) indicated on the basis of results published in the SPR study. MATERIAL, PATIENTS AND METHODS: 43 of 200 eyes (21.5 %, 41 patients) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were selected for scleral buckling as a primary surgical intervention. 38 patients (93 %) completed 6 months, 35 patients (85 %) 12 months and 26 patients (63 %) 24 months of follow-up. Selection of surgical methods was guided by results from the SPR study. Cases were treated by scleral buckling if the chance of primary success was estimated to be at least 90 %. RESULTS: Primary retinal attachment was achieved in 42 of 43 eyes (98 %). The retina in one eye without primary success was attached by pp-vitrectomy and gas endotamponade. No further redetachments occurred until month 12. Two eyes developed regional retinal traction in the periphery resulting from mild PVR (1 × after 16 months, 1 × after 35 months). Both were permanently attached after pp vitrectomy. At the end of the follow-up all eyes presented complete retinal attachment. Visual acuity improved from a preoperative level of logMAR 0.39 to 0.19 at month 6, 0.16 at month 12 and 0.11 at month 24 (p < 0.03). Cases with partial or complete foveal detachment reached between month 12 and month 24 the same level of visual acuity than those without foveal involvement (p = 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this case series clearly indicate that scleral buckling is still an excellent choice of the treatment for approximately one fourth of all patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and may lead to very good long-term results.

Regional practice patterns for retinal detachment repair in the United States.

PURPOSE: To determine if there are variations in regional practice patterns for retinal detachment repair in the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective, noninterventional, cross-sectional study. METHODS: Year 2009 Medicare fee-for-service claims for retinal detachment repair were aggregated in 4 geographic regions and evaluated. The relative preference for retinal detachment repair by pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckling, and pneumatic retinopexy was analyzed. RESULTS: The Midwest demonstrated a greater preference for scleral buckling compared to all other regions (P < .01) and lower preference for pars plana vitrectomy relative to the South and West (P ≤ .02). The Northeast demonstrated a greater preference for pneumatic retinopexy when compared to all other regions (P < .01). The Northeast also revealed a trend toward a lower preference for pars plana vitrectomy compared to the West and South (P ≤ .08). CONCLUSION: There are statistically significant variations in regional practice patterns for retinal detachment repair. The West, despite its historical association with pneumatic retinopexy, did not demonstrate a greater preference for the surgical technique.

Does surgical experience have an effect on the success of retinal detachment surgery?

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between surgeon experience and success rates in retinal detachment surgery. METHODS: Success rates during a follow-up of 11 months of 8 surgeons who performed in total 375 retinal detachment procedures ranging from 14 to 115 cases between December 1997 and January 2002 were correlated to the total number of vitreoretinal procedures ranging between 176 and 2,587. All patients received either scleral buckling or vitrectomy, and complicated cases were excluded. RESULTS: Mean primary anatomical success rates were 0.69 ± 0.14 for scleral buckling and 0.9 ± 0.05 for primary vitrectomy (P < 0.05). The primary anatomical success rates did not correlate to the number of vitreoretinal procedures. Seven of the eight surgeons showed an intraindividual learning effect with better success rates in the second versus the first half of the observed procedures. The learning effect was correlated to the total number of procedures with a higher effect in inexperienced surgeons. CONCLUSION: An intraindividual learning effect that was higher in inexperienced surgeons could be demonstrated. The learning effect was reduced by half after 500 vitreoretinal procedures while the primary anatomical success rates were not correlated to the number of vitreoretinal procedures.

Outcome of surgery after macula-off retinal detachment - results from MUSTARD, one of the largest databases on buckling surgery in Europe.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomical success rate of scleral buckling surgery in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and to evaluate the differences in outcome between patients suffering macula-off retinal detachment and those without a macular involvement. METHODS: As a retrospective interventional case series, Munster Study on Therapy Achievements in Retinal Detachment (MUSTARD) is one of the largest ever established of retinal detachment patients and their outcome after buckling surgery, with 4325 patients who underwent surgery between 1980 and 2001. In 53.94% (n = 2134) of 3956 patients with nontraumatic retinal detachment, the macula was involved. The main outcome measure was the achievement of dry anatomical attachment of the retina. RESULTS: The success rate in patients with macula-off retinal detachment is 80.46% and thus 7.78% lower (p < 0.01) than that in those patients with their macula intact whose success rate amounted to 88.24%. The overall success rate of all 4325 MUSTARD patients was 83.98%. CONCLUSIONS: Scleral buckling is an established and mostly successful method for the treatment of retinal detachment. As our case series has demonstrated, even eyes with macula-off can be treated successfully by this procedure, thereby avoiding the complications of primary vitrectomy.

Pars plana vitrectomy versus combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckle for primary repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with PPV and scleral buckle (PPV/SB) for repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent PPV or PPV/SB for RRD repair at a single institution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients in two different treatment groups and analysis of the anatomic and functional results. RESULTS: Single-surgery anatomic success was achieved in 31 of 37 (83.8%) phakic eyes that underwent PPV and in 66 of 68 (97.1%) phakic eyes that underwent PPV/SB (p = 0.0216). Among pseudophakic eyes, 42 of 48 (87.5%) in the PPV group and 62 of 66 (93.9%) in the PPV/SB group achieved single-surgery reattachment (p = 0.3175). Visual acuity improvement was marginally greater in the PPV group among phakic (p = 0.4898) and pseudophakic (p = 0.2465) eyes. CONCLUSIONS: PPV/SB may be associated with a decreased risk for retinal redetachment when compared to PPV for repair of phakic RRD. In pseudophakic eyes, the anatomic success rate between the two techniques appears to be similar.

Use of retinal procedures in medicare beneficiaries from 1997 to 2007.

OBJECTIVE: To observe how the treatment of retinal conditions changed over the preceding decade. METHODS: Medicare fee-for-service data claims filed between 1997 and 2007 were analyzed. RESULTS: Fewer than 5000 intravitreal injections of a pharmacological agent were performed annually between 1997 and 2001. Thereafter, the annual number of intravitreal injections more than doubled every year through 2006, reaching a high of 812,413 in 2007. Photodynamic therapy procedures decreased 83% from a peak of 133,565 procedures in 2004 to 22,675 procedures in 2007, while laser treatment of choroidal lesions or neovascularization decreased 83% from a peak of 82,089 in 1999 to a minimum of 13,821 in 2007. Vitrectomies for primary retinal detachment (with or without scleral buckling) increased 72% over the study period from 11,212 in 1997 to 19,923 in 2007, while scleral buckles performed without vitrectomy decreased 69% from 8691 to 2660. Substantial volume increases were also observed for vitrectomy with retinal membrane stripping (90% increase from 29,426 in 1997 to 56,051 in 2007) or endolaser panretinal photocoagulation (86% increase from 10,319 in 1997 to 19,154 in 2007). Volumes of pneumatic retinopexy, laser prophylaxis for retinal detachment, laser treatment for retinal edema, and laser treatment for retinopathy all changed less than 25% from 1997 and 2007. CONCLUSIONS: Marked changes in the use of several retinal procedures occurred between 1997 and 2007, particularly in the treatment of macular degeneration and retinal detachment. These changes point to greater acceptance and incorporation of vitrectomy and intravitreal injection as treatment modalities.