Macular changes after retinal detachment surgery

We studied 175 eyes of 175 patients who had successful repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Patients were randomly assigned to be treated with cryotherapy and episcleral sponges or with diathermy, scleral dissection, and encircling silicone bands. Fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were performed six weeks after successful reattachment surgery. Macular complications were discovered in 48 (27%) of the 175 eyes. The most frequent changes were cystoid macular edema in 28 (16%) and preretinal macular membrane in 13 eyes (8%). No significant differences in the incidence of cystoid macular edema were observed between diathermy and cryotherapy. Macular detachment, increased duration of macular detachment, cryotherapy, and pseudophakia were identified as risk factors for certain macular complications.