title: Macula-off retinal detachment--a matter of time?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the lag time between macular detachment and surgical intervention on post-operative visual acuity gain in patients with rhegmatogenous macula-off retinal detachment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 62 consecutive patients having undergone scleral buckling surgery for rhegmatogenous macula-off retinal detachment. The correlation of gender, age, refraction, number of retinal breaks, development of cataract during follow-up, pre-operative visual acuity and timing of surgical intervention with final visual acuity and post-operative visual acuity gain were determined. Mean follow-up time was 12.7 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A correlation with final visual acuity was found for pre-operative visual acuity and lag between the beginning of symptoms and surgical intervention. A correlation with visual acuity gain was found only for timing of surgical procedure. When divided into subgroups operated after 0, 1-3, 4-6, or 7-9 days, respectively, visual recovery was better the earlier the patients underwent surgical repair. Compared to surgery at day 0, statistical significance was found only for patients operated 4 or more days after the occurrence of symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first three days seem to represent a relatively safe period during which surgery for macula-off retinal detachment may be postponed without compromising the patient's visual prognosis.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Department of Ophthalmology, Basel, Switzerland. Henrichp@uhbs.ch
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Henrich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priglinger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klaessen
authors.forename: J-O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Kono-Kono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schötzau
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Josifova
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haritoglou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult