[Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment Eye research Center-Mashhad University of Medical Sciences]

Evaluation of epidemiology and seasonal variation of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment [RRD], in patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery. Medical records of 416 patients admitted in KHATAM eye hospital [Mashhad, IRAN] were reviewed between years 2000 to 2008. Information about sex, age, season and month of incidence and operation and concomitant risk factors of patients, were gathered and analyzed. Average age of patients was 41 years old. Most of the cases of the disease were observed in the age group of above 6- y/o [35%]. The frequency of the RRD was higher in male patients than in females. [Ratio: 1.7 to 1]. Distribution of our cases in different seasons showed no significant difference between them [P value = 0.142]. The highest and lowest rate of RRD was observed in October and September respectively with October having 51 patients [12.3%] and September having 23 patients [5.5%]. Myoia and pseudophakia were most common risk factors. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and month [and season] of incidence [or diagnosis and surgical procedure] of the RRD, likewise for gender. This study showed more RRD in male patients. Patients above than 60 years old have greater risks of incidence of RRD. No seasonal incidence pattern for RRD was founded; however, most of cases occurred in October, and at least in September

Anatomical and visual outcomes of three different scleral buckling techniques

To compare the anatomical and visual outcomes of three different scleral buckling techniques and to explore the effect of cryotherapy and subretinal fluid drainage [SRFD] on outcomes of surgery. This retrospective study was performed on 111 eyes of 109 patients undergoing scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments [RRDs] by a single surgeon. Pre-, intra- and postoperative data were retrieved from hospital records. Buckles were radial in 27 [24.3%], circumferential [segmental] in 16 [14.4%] and encircling in 68 [61.3%] eyes. Anatomical and visual results were comparable with all three buckling techniques. Application of cryotherapy, the spot number, and SRFD did not affect anatomical and visual results. The only preoperative factor associated with poorer anatomical results was the presence of multiple retinal breaks [P=0.006]. The following preoperative factors affected visual outcomes on univariate analysis: extent of retinal detachment [r=0.417, P=0.011] and relative afferent pupillary defect [r=0.423, P=0.02]. Preoperative macular status [attached vs detached] also had a significant effect on visual outcomes [P < 0.001]. Based on multivariate analysis however, only preoperative macular status was significantly correlated with visual results [P=0.022]. Silicone sponges placed for non-encircling surgery were removed due to ocular dysmotility in 4 [3.6%] eyes, cosmetic reasons in 3 [2.7%] cases and extrusion in 2 [1.8%] eyes. One encircling tire was also removed due to extrusion. Surgical technique and performing cryotherapy or SRFD do not seem to influence the anatomical and visual outcomes of scleral buckling. Postoperative complications seem to be more prevalent with non-encircling techniques