Visual recovery in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachments.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to review the best postoperative visual recovery in patients with macula-off detachments of 7 days' duration or less.


METHODS
Noncontrolled, prospective, interventional case series.


METHODS
A total of 104 patients with macula-off detachments of 7 days or less were studied, and the time of the macular detachment within the first 7 days was carefully determined.


METHODS
All 104 detachments were repaired with a primary scleral buckling procedure. Four cases were primary failures and were excluded from the study.


METHODS
Statistical methods were used to compare the visual results of three groups of patients; those operated on between 1 and 2 days, 3 and 4 days, or 5 and 7 days after macular involvement.


RESULTS
The mean postoperative visual acuity was 20/60. Fifty-nine percent of patients regained 20/50 or better visual acuity, 35% regained visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/200, and 5% of patients were left with visual acuity of less than 20/200 regardless of whether they had undergone surgery within 1 to 2 days, 3 to 4 days, or 5 to 7 days after macular involvement. There was no statistical difference in visual recovery in patients operated on within 1 to 2 days, 3 to 4 days, or 5 to 7 days after macular involvement (P = 0.533).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the first week after development of macula-off retinal detachment, delay in surgical repair does not adversely affect visual outcome.
Ross
W H
WH
Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Kozy
D W
DW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride