Abstract

Sixty-six patients in whom the macula was detached before surgery were observed for at least 1 year after retinal reattachment. Macular abnormalities were recognised clinically in most patients with severely reduced vision. Failure of retinal receptor regeneration or receptor misalignment may account for visual reduction in a minority of patients but may be less important as a cause of reduced visual acuity than was previously supposed. This study confirms that the visual prognosis is related to the duration of the detachment before surgery, and patients with a macular detachment for 2 months or longer are likely to suffer persistently reduced vision.