Pars plana vitrectomy combined with expanded area retinal photocoagulation for treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with inferior breaks.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with expanded-area retinal photocoagulation for the treatment of primary retinal detachment with inferior breaks.

METHODS

Eighteen patients (18 eyes) with primary retinal detachment due to inferior breaks, treated at our institute between January 2020 and October 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent 23-gauge PPV combined with expanded-area retinal photocoagulation. The patients' best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured preoperatively and 6 months post-operatively, along with assessments for retinal redetachment, epiretinal membrane formation, and complications.

RESULTS

The BCVA (LogMAR) significantly improved from 0.78 ± 0.69 preoperatively to 0.31 ± 0.20 after 6 months (t = 3.374, P < 0.01). None of the treated eyes developed retinal detachment during the follow-up period. No intraoperative complications such as lens injury, hemorrhage, or retinal perforation were reported. During the postoperative follow-up period, no cases of macular puckering, cystoid macular edema, secondary glaucoma, or endophthalmitis were observed.

CONCLUSION

PPV combined with expanded-area retinal photocoagulation is an effective treatment for primary retinal detachment with inferior breaks, offering good postoperative visual recovery, low risk of retinal redetachment, and few complications.