Visual recovery after buckling surgery for macula - off retinal detachment

The purpopse of this work is to study the postoperative course of the recovery of macular function. The visual recovery after a scleral buckling surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment involving the macula was investigated retrospectively. 52 patients with 52 eyes had been treated with a segmental, radial or encircling scleral buckle. The follow up period was for more than 5 years. All cases with a history of trauma, macular diseases, cataract and previous vitreoretinal surgery were excluded from the study. A better postoperative visual recovery was obtained in cases with better preoperative visual acuity, short duration of macular detachment and also cases of emmetropia or a low degree of myopia. The best corrected visual acuities were better at 5 years postoperatively than at 3 months by two lines or more in 22 eyes [42%]. Good preoperative visual acuity and short duration of macular detachment carries a better postoperative visual recovery. The visual function may continue to improve over the long-term