Outcomes and complications of pneumatic retinopexy over a 12-year period.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate anatomic and clinical outcomes of pneumatic retinopexy for treatment of primary retinal detachment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Noncomparative, single-center, consecutive, interventional case series evaluating all patients treated between 2000 and 2012. Patients with less than 1 month of follow-up or coexisting neovascular age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, endophthalmitis, or prior posterior segment surgery were excluded.

RESULTS: Sixty-three eyes of 63 patients with primary retinal detachment treated with pneumatic retinopexy were included. Median follow-up was 10.3 months. Single-operation success (SOS), defined as anatomic reattachment with pneumatic retinopexy alone, occurred in 40 eyes (63%). The retina was successfully reattached in 21 of the other 23 eyes (91%) with one additional surgery. There was no difference in visual acuity outcomes between SOS and additional surgical intervention (P = .85). New or missed breaks were identified in 19 of 63 eyes (30%). Postoperative subretinal fluid was observed in 22 of 63 eyes (35%) and persisted at last follow-up in two of 63 eyes (3%). At final follow-up, the retina was fully attached in 97% of eyes.

CONCLUSION: Pneumatic retinopexy remains a reasonably successful option in the management of primary retinal detachment. No difference in best corrected visual acuity outcomes in eyes achieving SOS versus those requiring additional surgery was demonstrated.