Bilateral sequential and simultaneous rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: anatomic and functional outcomes

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Visual Outcomes

Background:

• Bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (BRRD) necessitates understanding outcomes for sequential versus simultaneous repair.
• Assessing anatomic success and visual acuity is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the anatomic and functional outcomes of sequential and simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (BRRD) repair.
• Evaluate single-surgery anatomic success (SSAS) and final pinhole visual acuity (PHVA).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 109 patients (218 eyes) with BRRD between 2014-2020.
• Data collected on SSAS and PHVA (logMAR).
• Comparison between first and second eyes in sequential repair and simultaneous bilateral cases.

Main Results:

• Sequential BRRD (92%) was more common than simultaneous (8%).
• Second eyes showed shorter symptom duration, fewer retinal tears, and better preoperative PHVA.
• SSAS was high and similar for both eyes (92% vs 93%).
• Final PHVA favored the first eye, but was comparable at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Single-surgery anatomic success rates are comparable for sequential and simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.
• The second eye often presents with earlier, less severe disease.
• While functional outcomes are similar at 3 months, final visual acuity differences may relate to follow-up duration.