Risk factors for macular pucker after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery

Macular pucker, also known as an epiretinal membrane, sometimes forms after surgical repair of a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and can decrease visual acuity and cause aniseikonia. However, few reports are evaluating the risk factors of macular pucker using multivariate analysis. To evaluate the risk factors for macular pucker after RRD surgery, 226 patients who underwent RRD surgery and were monitored for greater than 12 months (23.2 ± 6.4 months) after surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Of these cases, macular pucker developed in 26 cases. Multiple logistic regression models of 22 clinical characteristics were performed. An increased risk of macular pucker after RRD surgery was significantly associated with preoperative vitreous haemorrhage (Odds ratio (OR), 4.71; 95% CI 1.19-18.62), multiple retinal breaks (OR, 8.07; 95% CI 2.35-27.71), re-detachment (OR, 19.66; 95% CI 4.87-79.38), and retinal detachment area (OR, 12.91; 95% CI 2.34-71.19). Macular pucker was not associated with the surgical technique. Regardless of the surgical technique used, careful observation for postoperative macular pucker is needed after RRD surgery in high-risk cases. These findings can be used to improve the surgical management of patients with RRD. (183 words).