Outcome of surgery for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment In a Nigerian eye hospital.

AIMS AND

OBJECTIVES

To determine the treatment outcome of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment at the Guinness Eye Centre Onitsha, Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Case files of patients who had surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment at the Guinness Eye Center Onitsha between June 1997 and May 2012 were reviewed. Information obtained included age, sex, presenting and post-operative visual acuity, anatomical reattachment, post- operative complications and causes of treatment failure.

RESULTS

Fifty four patients, 33 males and 21 females, age range: 48-79 years, median-56 years, had surgery. Three patients had giant retinal tears; 10 patients also had proliferative vitreo-retinopathy(PVR). Symptoms duration was 7 days to 18 months; median-7 months; the post-surgery follow-up was 9 months to 6 years; median -2 years.While 47(87%) patients had pre-operative visual acuity<3/60 in the affected eye, post-operatively 48(88.9%) patients achieved acuity e" 3/60, with 14(25.9%) attaining uncorrected visual acuity of 6/9 - 6/18. The retina remained attached 6 months after surgery in 45(83.3%) patients.The post- operative complications included re-detachment, 12(22.2%) patients, cataract, 5(9.3%), exposed explant, 2(3.7%), suture granuloma, diplopia and retinal haemorrhage, 1(1.9%) patient each.The surgical failure in the 12 patients were were due to PVR (9 patients) and missed retinal holes (3 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite poor infrastructure and late presentation by patients, the anatomical and visual results of surgical treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using cryo-retinopexy and scleral buckling technique are encouraging. Better results would be expected if patients presented early and facilities for vitrectomy provided for tackling complex detachments.