title: Impact of Duration of Macula off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment on Visual Outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess impact of duration of macular detachment on visual outcome after scleral buckling for retinal detachment with macula off.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, descriptive case series was conducted at Ophthalmology Department Dow University of Health Sciences, Civil Hospital Karachi and Al Noor Eye Clinic Karachi from May 2012 to June 2013. Five groups were made according to period of macular detachment. Best corrected Visual acuity (BCVA) was main outcome measure. P value < 0.001 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean duration of macula off was 17.0±4.0 (SD) days. Mean pre-operative VA in patients with immediate, early, intermediate, delayed or late group were 2/60, 2/60, Counting figure (CF) 3 meters (m), CF2 m and Hand Movement (HM) respectively. Only 48.48% patients of those repaired within 7 to15 days had significantly better (P < 0.001) BCVA (6/9-6/18) than the other groups. Only 19.35% patients of intermediate group achieved BCVA 6/18-6/24 (P < 0.001) which was comparatively better than the delayed and late group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scleral buckle surgery for macular-off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment has good post-operative visual outcomes if repaired within two weeks.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Mahtab Alam Khanzada MBBS, FCPS, Second Fellowship trainee (Vireo retina), Ophthalmology Unit I, Dow University of Health Sciences, Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mahtab Alam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khanzada
authors.affiliation: Dr. ShahidWahab MBBS, MCPS, FCPS, Professor of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology Unit I, Dow University of Health Sciences, Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.affiliation: Dr. Hargun Das Lakhani MBBS, FCPS, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology Unit I, Dow University of Health Sciences, Civil Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Lakhani Das
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hargun
keywords: Duration of Macula off; Scleral buckling; Visual outcome