Anatomic and visual results in asymptomatic clinical rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repaired by scleral buckling.

Abstract

To report presenting characteristics as well as anatomic and visual results in asymptomatic clinical rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repaired by scleral buckling. Review of 28 eyes of 27 patients with an asymptomatic clinical retinal detachment-defined as a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with subretinal fluid extending more than 2 disk diameters posterior to the equator-which were repaired by scleral buckling from January 1989 through December 1996 with follow-up of 6 months or longer. With a single scleral buckling procedure, anatomic reattachment of the retina occurred in all eyes; one eye redetached 14 months after the initial surgery secondary to a new retinal break and was successfully reattached. All eyes had best-corrected presenting and final visual acuity of 20/50 or better. Final best-corrected Snellen visual acuity was within 1 line of best-corrected presenting visual acuity in 82% of eyes; three eyes improved more than 1 line of Snellen visual acuity and two eyes lost more than 1 line. Anatomic and visual results in asymptomatic clinical rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after scleral buckling surgery are excellent. Strong consideration should be given to repair of these detachments.