Scleral buckle versus pars plana vitrectomy in the management of primary chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: A comparison of anatomical and visual outcomes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the anatomical and visual outcomes of scleral buckle (SB) surgery with the pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the management of chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: This cohort study included patients who underwent surgical repair SB group and PPV group for chronic retinal detachment during 2014–2018 at the King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh. The anatomical and functional success rate at 12 months after surgery was compared in two groups. Cox regression and linear regression analysis were performed to identify the predictor of anatomical and functional outcomes, respectively. Need for second surgery was also evaluated. RESULTS: Our cohort had 68 eyes in SB and 64 eyes in PPV group. Eyes that underwent PPV were more likely to develop retinal detachment over 12 months than those that underwent SB surgery (adjusted heart rates 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95–4.64 P = 0.065). A multivariable linear regression analysis did not reveal a significant association between the surgery type and change in visual acuity (beta coefficient, 0.002; 95% CI,−0.184, 0.189 for specific bread volume; P = 0.979). A higher percentage of eyes in the PPV group compared with those in the SB surgery group required secondary surgery (39.1% vs. 22.1%; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Scleral buckling surgery showed a better single surgery anatomic success rate as compared to PPV in the management of chronic primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The functional outcome of the two procedures was comparable.