Management of uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: a comparison of practice patterns and clinical outcomes in a real-world setting

Objective: To investigate practice patterns and clinical outcomes in the repair of uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) in a real-world setting over a 10-year period. Methods: We compared preferences for scleral buckling (SB), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), PPV/SB, or pneumatic retinopexy (PR) over time, and examined the 1-year single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at a tertiary academic institution from 2008–2018. Results: Eight hundred eight eyes had RRD repair between 2008–2011 (n = 240), 2012–2014 (n = 271), and 2015–2017 (n = 297). Compared to 2008–2011, PPV was preferred over SB in 2012–2014 (OR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.86–4.63) and 2015–2017 (OR: 5.94; 95% CI: 3.76–9.38), and over PPV/SB in 2012–2014 (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.65–4.56) and 2015–2017 (OR: 3.16; 95% CI: 31.96–5.12). PR was uncommonly utilized (<10%). Younger surgeons (graduating 2010–2017) favored PPV over SB when compared to older surgeons [graduating 1984–2000 (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.18–2.65) and 2001–2009 (OR 1.73; 95% CI: 1.14–2.65)], but similarly selected PPV vs. PPV/SB as their older counterparts (p > 0.05). Compared to PPV, SSAS was higher with SB (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.03–2.26) and PPV/SB (OR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.56–4.17). One-year BCVA was markedly improved compared to baseline only for eyes that achieved SSAS (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Over the past 10 years, PPV has become the favored approach to repair uncomplicated RRD and this appears to be driven by younger surgeons’ preferences. Given the superior long-term SSAS in SB and PPV/SB as compared to PPV, SB and PPV/SB should be more frequently considered when determining the appropriate repair strategy for uncomplicated RRD.