LATE PRESENTATION OF RETINAL DETACHMENT: CLINICAL FEATURES AND SURGICAL OUTCOMES

Outcomes following repair of early-onset versus delayed-onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachments after acute posterior vitreous detachment

AIM

To report anatomical and functional outcomes after surgical repair of acute-onset vs delayed-onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RDs) following acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

METHODS

A retrospective, comparative interventional cohort study where patients presenting to a single-centre retina practice between October 2015 and March 2020 with delayed RDs (diagnosed ≥42 days after initial presentation of acute PVD) were compared with a 2:1 age-matched and gender-matched acute RD cohort (PVD and RD at initial presentation). The primary outcome was the final attachment rate and single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) at 3 months after RD repair.

RESULTS

A total of 210 eyes were analysed-70 in the delayed RD group and 140 in the acute RD group. SSAS was 58/70 (82.9%) for the delayed RD group and 112/140 (80%) for the acute RD group (p=0.71). At the time of RD diagnosis, mean (SD) logarithm of minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA) was 0.51 (0.70) (Snellen, 20/65) in the delayed RD group vs 1.04 (0.92) (Snellen, 20/219) in the acute RD group (p<0.001). Mean VA was better at 1 and 3 months post-repair in the delayed RD group (p=0.005 and 0.041, respectively) but similar by 6 months, 12 months and at the final visit post-repair (p=0.48, 0.27, and 0.23, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed-onset RDs occurring ≥6 weeks after initial presentation to a retina specialist with an acute PVD generally had better VA at the time of RD diagnosis and faster post-surgical visual recovery compared with acute-onset RDs diagnosed at the initial presentation. No significant difference in anatomic outcomes was seen between the two groups.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy: an update on the current and emerging treatment options

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) remains the main cause of failure in retinal detachment (RD) surgery and a demanding challenge for vitreoretinal surgeons. Despite the large improvements in surgical techniques and a better understanding of PVR pathogenesis in the last years, satisfactory anatomical and visual outcomes have not been provided yet. For this reason, several different adjunctive pharmacological agents have been investigated in combination with surgery. In this review, we analyze the current and emerging adjunctive treatment options for the management of PVR and we discuss their possible clinical application and beneficial role in this subgroup of patients.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in choroidal melanoma: clinical features and surgical outcomes

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical features, prognostic factors, safety and rate of success of surgery and visual outcomes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and choroidal melanoma (CM).

METHODS

A retrospective, observational case-series of 21 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment or combined tractional-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients with choroidal melanoma over a period of 20 years.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were included in the final analysis. The mean elevation of CM was 4.0 mm and the mean largest diameter was 11.0 mm. RRD occurred after the CM treatment in 14 eyes at a mean interval of 44.2 months. The RRD was macula-on RRD in 6 eyes, there was posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in 15 and PVR in 7 eyes. BCVA at presentation was 0.71 logMAR and final was 1.5 logMAR (p = 0.01). The primary surgical success rate was 59%. No intraocular or extraocular tumour dissemination occurred. Mean follow-up was 66 months.

CONCLUSION

RRD in patients with CM is uncommon but requires multidisciplinary management. Anatomical results are favourable but visual outcomes are poor due to a combination of factors related to melanoma treatment, macular retinal detachment and PVR. Vitrectomy as a surgical intervention for RRD in treated CM appears to be safe in terms tumour dissemination.

LATE RECURRENCE OF RETINAL DETACHMENT: Incidence, Clinical Features, and Surgical Outcomes

PURPOSE

To describe and evaluate demographics, clinical features, prognostic factors, rate of success of surgery, incidence, and visual outcomes in patients with a late recurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment over a 10-year period at a large tertiary referral eye center.

METHODS

A retrospective, observational case series of patients with late recurrence of retinal detachment, defined as redetachment after at least six months of total reattachment in non-proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery with gas tamponade.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients had a late recurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of 16,396 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment operations. The mean of time between the first retinal detachment (RD) surgery and redetachment was 122.7 (SD 115) weeks. On presentation with late recurrence, 72% of eyes were pseudophakic and 64% were macula-off. In 28 eyes, small breaks were found. Thirty-eight percent had established PVR (PVR-C in 80%). Ninety-five percent underwent PPV. Gas was used in 61%. The initial secondary success rate was 64%. Initial best-corrected visual acuity was 1.32 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (6/120) and final was 0.8 logMAR (6/38; P value 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Late recurrence of retinal detachment is rare. It is characterized by small retinal breaks that may be difficult to visualize. Although cases can be treated with favorable anatomical results, visual outcomes are often less good and the success rate is lower.

Outcomes of chronic macula-off retinal detachment repair

PURPOSE

There have been disparate outcomes in the few studies that have looked at anatomic success and visual acuity (VA) in chronic retinal rhegmatogenous detachment (RRD) repair. Chronic retinal detachments (RD) without a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) occur in young myopes often secondary to an atrophic hole. These patients are often asymptomatic, and studies report good surgical anatomic results. However, chronic RD with a PVD is symptomatic but presents late due to patient compliance. This paper aims to evaluate this lesser-studied chronic macula-off RD with PVD.

METHODS

After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, patients who had undergone surgical intervention for all diagnosis codes of RD were identified in the Denver Health Medical Center database. Medical records were reviewed, and patients found to have open-globe injuries, tractional RD due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, macula-on detachments, and RD due to previous ocular surgery were excluded. Similarly, patients without PVD were also excluded. A total of 37 patients with PVD-type chronic macula-off RD were thus identified and preoperative characteristics, surgical intervention, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

The average patient age was 53.8 years. The length of RRD duration ranged from 30 to 365 days (mean 136.7 days). Twenty-six (70.3% patients had proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade C or greater. Initial anatomic success-defined as re-attachment after one surgery-was 54.1%. The final attachment was 94.6%. Fifteen of 37 (40.5%) of the patients had issues with drop adherence, positioning, or missing post-operative appointments.

CONCLUSION

Chronic macula-off RD with a PVD should be identified as it is associated with much lower rates of initial re-attachment. Socioeconomic factors likely are the driving factor for patients with PVD-type chronic macula-off RD to present late, struggle with positioning, and have difficulty with follow-up and drop compliance. These extended periods without treatment then lead to high rates of PVR and poor initial anatomic success. However, repair of PVD-type chronic macula-off RD should still be pursued as final anatomic success is high.