Vitreoretinal surgery on the fellow eye: A retrospective analysis of 18 years of surgical data from a tertiary center in England

Retinal detachment risk in the fellow eyes of patients presenting with retinal tears in more than two quadrants

Literature discussing fellow eye risk in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment secondary to posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is limited, particularly in subgroups where this risk may be greater than the general population. In this retrospective consecutive case series with 107 study patients, the risk of retinal tears in fellow eyes of patients with horseshoe tears in three or more quadrants of their presenting eye, secondary to PVD, was 81%. The fellow eye risk is high in this subgroup of patients, and it is important to inform them to seek prompt attention when symptoms of PVD develop in their fellow eye.

The effect of sex and laterality on the phenotype of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

BACKGROUND

To assess the effect of sex and laterality on clinical features of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

METHOD

This study is a retrospective analysis of data prospectively collected. We extracted data from two online datasets over a 7-year period of patients older than 16 years who had undergone surgery for primary RRD. Data on baseline characteristics were analyzed to compare males versus females, and right versus left eyes.

RESULTS

Of 8133 eyes analyzed, 4342 (53.4%) were right. The overall male predominance (63.7%) was more marked in the age range 50-69 years. Men were more commonly pseudophakic and presented more frequently with baseline posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). Female sex was significantly associated with baseline myopia, retinal holes as causative retinal break, and isolated inferior RD. Men had more frequent foveal involvement, greater RRD extent, greater numbers and larger sized retinal tears including dialysis and giant retinal tears. Regarding laterality, foveal involvement, larger retinal breaks, isolated temporal RD and temporal retinal breaks were more common in right eyes, whereas left eyes were more myopic at baseline and presented more frequently with isolated nasal RD and nasal retinal breaks.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed the predominance of male sex and right laterality in RRD. Sex and laterality were associated with multiple presenting features of RRD including extent, break distribution, number, size and type, as well as RD distribution.

Stratifying the risk of re-detachment: variables associated with outcome of vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a large UK cohort study

INTRODUCTION

To identify variables associated with primary anatomical outcome following vitrectomy and internal tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, using a database of RD treated with vitrectomy and internal tamponade. Collected data complied with the RCOphth Retinal Detachment Dataset. The main outcome measure was anatomical failure within six months of surgery.

RESULTS

There were 6377 vitrectomies. 869 eyes were excluded, either because no outcome was recorded, or inadequate follow up, leaving 5508 operations for analysis. 63.9% of patients were male, and the median age was 62. Primary anatomical failure occurred in 13.9%. On multivariate analysis, the following were associated with increased risk of failure: age <45, or >79, inferior retinal breaks, total detachment, one quadrant or greater inferior detachment, low density silicone oil, and presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. C2F6 tamponade, cryotherapy, and 25 G vitrectomy, were associated with reduced risk of failure. The area under the receiver operator curve was 71.7%. According to this model, 54.3% of RD are at low risk (<10%), 35.6% are at moderate risk (10-25%), and 10.1% are at high risk (>25%) of failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous attempts to identify high risk RD have been limited by small numbers, the inclusion of both scleral buckling and vitrectomy, or by excluding some types of RD. This study examined outcomes in unselected RD, treated by vitrectomy. Identification of the variables associated with anatomical outcome after RD surgery enables accurate risk stratification, which is valuable for patient counselling and selection, and for future clinical trials.

Bilateral Nonpenetrating Deep Sclerectomy: Difference in Outcomes Between First- and Second-Operated Eyes at 24 Months

BACKGROUND/AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the difference in outcome between the first-operated and the second-operated eyes after nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (DS), and to identify potential success predictors for the second eye.

METHODS

This single-surgeon, retrospective study analyzed the outcomes of all bilateral nonsimultaneous DS with at least 24 months of follow-up. Its main outcome measure was surgical success, defined as unmedicated intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤15 mm Hg associated with a relative reduction ≥20%.

RESULTS

In all, 104 eyes of 52 patients who underwent bilateral (standalone or combined) DS, within a mean of 344.3±526.3 days of each other, were analyzed. Postoperatively, the mean medicated IOP decreased from 20.7±7.9 (first-operated eyes) and 19.3±6.6 mm Hg (second-operated eyes) at baseline (P=0.107) to 13.8±4.8 [(-33.3%; P<0.001) first-operated eyes) and 12.7±3.8 mm Hg [(-34.2%; P<0.001) second-operated eyes] after 2 years (P=0.619). Postoperative IOP and treatment reduction, respectively, showed fair (r=0.53) and good (r=0.71) levels of correlation between fellow eyes. The rates of complete success were comparable between first-operated and second-operated eyes (32.7% and 40.4%, respectively; P=0.364). At 2 years, among patients whose first-operated eyes were considered a success, 82.4% of surgeries in second eyes were successful (P=0.001). The odds ratio of a second-operated eye experiencing complete success were 6.32 (P=0.011) if the first-operated eye experienced complete success.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated a strong association between first-operated and second-operated eyes after DS, in terms of surgical outcomes and IOP reduction. In effect, surgical success in the first-operated eye increases the odds of success in the second eye by 6-fold.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a review of current practice in diagnosis and management

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a common condition with an increasing incidence, related to the ageing demographics of many populations and the rising global prevalence of myopia, both well known risk factors. Previously untreatable, RRD now achieves primary surgical success rates of over 80%-90% with complex cases also amenable to treatment. The optimal management for RRD attracts much debate with the main options of pneumatic retinopexy, scleral buckling and vitrectomy all having their proponents based on surgeon experience and preference, case mix and equipment availability. The aim of this review is to provide an overview for the non-retina specialist that will aid and inform their understanding and discussions with patients. We review the incidence and pathogenesis of RRD, present a systematic approach to diagnosis and treatment with special consideration to managing the fellow eye and summarise surgical success and visual recovery following different surgical options.