Macula-On Versus Macula-Off Pseudophakic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Following Primary 23-Gauge Vitrectomy Plus Endotamponade.

AIM

To evaluate anatomical and functional outcomes of macula-on and macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after 23-gauge vitrectomy and gas endotamponade, in eyes after successful cataract surgery.

METHODS

Forty-six pseudophakic eyes of 46 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for RRD repair were included. Based on the severity degree and extension of the RRD, diluted C3F8, SF6 or C2F6 gases were used for endotamponade. Patients were followed 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Main outcome variables were functional and anatomic outcomes till 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy of grade B or C was observed in 43%. C3F8 was used in 59%, SF6 in 28% and C2F6 in 13%. Reattachment after the first intervention was achieved in 89%. Preoperatively, 63% of patients presented with fovea-off retinal detachment. No intraoperative complications were registered. Preoperatively, eyes with macula-on RRD had a logMar BCVA of 0.3 ± 0.6 compared with 1.2 ± 0.7 in the macula-off group (p = 0.01). The mean visual acuity significantly improved to 0.06 ± 0.1 logMar in macula-on eyes and to 0.2 ± 0.3 logMar in macula-off eyes at 12 months (p = 0.01 compared to baseline and p = 0.04 between both the groups). The mean final postoperative CRT was 318 ± 48 µm in the macula-on group compared with 305 ± 71 µm in the macula-off group (p = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Even morphological improvement after 23-gauge vitrectomy and gas endotamponade was comparable between macula-on and macula-off eyes, macula-off RRDs showed delayed visual rehabilitation. Both groups showed significant visual acuity improvement until 12 months, however, macula-on RRDs showed significantly more improvement than macula-off RRDs.