Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment with Spared Macula

ABSTRACT

We determined the ultimate anatomic success and visual outcome for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with spared macula, and compared the preoperative findings and success rate with those involving the macula in the 445 eyes treated with scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and the causes of decrease in visual acuity after operation were evaluated. Seventy-seven (67%) of the 115 eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with spared macula and 28 (8%) of the 330 eyes with that involving the macula had preoperative visual acuity of 0.3 or better. In comparision to the findings of the eyes with retinal detachment involving the macula, in the eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with spared macula the extent of retinal detachment was less, the retinal break was located more anteriorly, the demarcation line was less frequently noted, and the incidences of high myopia and lattice degeneration were higher. Postoperatively all 115 eyes with spared macula were anatomically reattached, 99 eyes (86%) had visual acuity of 0.3 or better and success rates were significantly better in comparison to those involving the macula (p<.05). Seventeen eyes had a significant decrease in visual acuity postoperatively, the causes included macular detachment after failure of the first operation, macular pucker, progression of cataract, etc.