The Manchester buckle study: 15-year outcomes and predictive factors for success in scleral buckling for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Abstract

To assess the long-term anatomical and visual outcomes of primary scleral buckle (SB) surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and identify predictors of surgical and functional success. All primary SB procedures performed at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital between January 2008 and December 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were extracted from electronic records. Primary end-points were single-surgery anatomical success (SSAS) and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); univariate and multivariate regression analyses examined predictive variables and complications. 608 eyes were included. SSAS was achieved in 515 eyes (85%) and final anatomical success in 602 eyes (99%). Mean BCVA improved from 0.62±0.85 to 0.32±0.49 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (p<0.01). On multivariate analysis, age >40 years (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.83; p=0.004), macula-off status (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.97; p=0.034) and ocular trauma (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.82; p=0.012) independently reduced SSAS. For visual outcomes, macula-off detachment (β=+0.36; p<0.001) and ocular trauma (β=+0.42; p<0.001) were independent predictors of worse postoperative BCVA. The most common complications were subretinal haemorrhage (4.6%), inadvertent deep sutures (3.9%) and postoperative ocular hypertension (7.4%). Primary SB provided high anatomical success, significant visual improvement and a favourable safety profile in this large single-centre study. Age above 40 years, macula-off status and ocular trauma predicted poorer SSAS; trauma and macula-off status were also associated with worse postoperative BCVA on multivariate logistic regression.