PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT OF LATTICE DEGENERATION IN FELLOW EYES AFTER REPAIR OF UNCOMPLICATED PRIMARY RHEGMATOGENOUS...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Preventative Medicine

Background:

• Lattice degeneration (LD) is a common peripheral retinal finding.
• Patients with a history of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in one eye have an increased risk of RRD in the fellow eye.
• Asymptomatic LD in the fellow eye is often monitored without intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic treatment (PTx) for lattice degeneration (LD) in reducing the risk of retinal tears (RT) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in the fellow eye of patients who have undergone primary RRD repair.
• To assess the impact of PTx on visual acuity and other ocular factors.

Main Methods:

• A consecutive case series with cohort control design was employed.
• Patients undergoing RRD repair between 2013 and 2017 were included.
• The study compared a cohort receiving PTx in the fellow eye with lattice degeneration to a No-PTx control cohort, with a 5-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• The PTx cohort (146 patients) showed a significantly lower incidence of new RT/RRD (17%) compared to the No-PTx cohort (352 patients, 41%) (P < 0.05).
• PTx demonstrated a significant reduction in RT/RRD risk across different myopia and posterior vitreous detachment statuses.
• In patients who underwent phacoemulsification, PTx also significantly reduced RT/RRD risk (22% vs. 31% in No-PTx), with no significant difference in final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Conclusions:

• Prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic lattice degeneration in the fellow eye effectively reduces the risk of retinal tears and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
• PTx is a valuable strategy for preventing serious visual complications in high-risk patients.
• The benefits of PTx extend to various patient subgroups and do not negatively impact final visual acuity.