The efficacious combined treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (PVR ≤ C2) with inferior breaks using 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and air tamponade

Abstract

To examine the surgical results of 25-gauge (25-G) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with air tamponade for the repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with inferior retinal breaks. A retrospective consecutive study was conducted from March 2019 to February 2023 on 27 patients with primary RRD with inferior breaks who underwent 25-G PPV with air tamponade. Once the surgery was completed, the patients were monitored for a minimum of 6 months. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative complications, and the rate of single surgery anatomical success were the primary outcome measures. The average age of the 12 female and 15 male study participants was 50.2 ± 12.8 years. The follow-up period was 10.3 ± 3.9 months on average. On average, the affected clock hours were 5.6 ± 2.1 hours, and the average number of retinal breaks was 2.2 ± 1.8. Moreover, the final anatomical success rate was 100%, compared to the estimated initial anatomical success rate of 96.30% following a single surgery. At 6 months, we also noticed a significant change in the mean BCVA, which went from 1.62 ± 0.71 logMAR (preoperative) to 0.89 ± 0.61 logMAR (postoperative) (P < .001). On the first day and the week following surgery, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was similar (all P > .05). One patient experienced postoperative complications such as retinal redetachment, which was addressed with the same procedure. After surgery, 2 patients had IOP of 35 and 28 mm Hg for 1 week. Two weeks following surgery, their IOP essentially returned to normal after receiving antihypertensive medication. No other notable postoperative complications were observed. According to this research, 25-G PPV with air tamponade has a satisfactory success rate in repairing primary RRD with inferior breaks. This procedure also produces quicker visual recovery and is linked to fewer complications.