Anatomic and Visual Outcomes of Scleral Buckle in Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in the Era of Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Introduction: To determine the presenting clinical characteristics of patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who underwent scleral buckling and the impact on final visual outcomes and to determine the postoperative primary attachment rate, complications, and subsequent management. Methods: This retrospective observational study comprised patients with RRD who had scleral buckling surgery from January 2016 to December 2021 with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Results: The study comprised 307 eyes of 290 patients; 97% of eyes were phakic. Primary anatomic attachment was achieved in 93% of eyes. Macula-on detachment had a significant relationship with visual gain, while age, refractive status, number of breaks, configuration of the detachment, traumatic etiology, and lens status did not. Eyes with recurrent detachment did not have a significant visual gain after subsequent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Conclusions: Most eyes that underwent scleral buckling were phakic. Macular status played a significant role in the visual prognosis. The primary anatomic attachment rate after scleral buckling surgery is comparable to that after PPV. Thus, scleral buckling is far from being a procedure of the past. Multiple breaks, inferior detachments, and traumatic etiology do not appear to adversely affect the visual outcomes. Multiple vitreoretinal surgeries may not result in a visual gain in cases of recurrent detachment.