Introduction: The role of vitrectomy for the treatment of uncomplicated retinal detachments has not been clearly defined. This study reports the results of a series of eyes with bullous rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) due to complex breaks that were managed by primary vitrectomy.
Methods: The study consisted of a consecutive series of 22 eyes (22 patients) with a bullous RRD not complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) associated with large, multiple, or posterior breaks. All eyes underwent vitrectomy, injection of perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL), cryopexy and gas tamponade as the primary procedure. Encircling scleral bands were placed in all cases. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 months (mean 10.9 +/- 6.5 months).
Results: Anatomical retinal re-attachment was achieved in all eyes after one operation. Best-corrected final visual acuity was improved in all cases. Complications included progressive posterior subcapsular and nucleosclerotic cataract in four (22%) of the 18 phakic eyes and epiretinal membrane in one patient.
Conclusions: These results, together with the relatively low incidence of complications, lead us to conclude that this technique is an effective method for treatment of bullous RRD not complicated by PVR associated with technically difficult breaks. A controlled, prospective, randomized study would be necessary to thoroughly assess the advantages of vitrectomy over scleral buckling alone in these cases.