Metamorphopsia after surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Visual Function Research

Background:

• Surgical repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) achieves high success rates but often fails to restore complete visual function.
• Metamorphopsia, characterized by visual distortions, is a frequent postoperative complaint following RRD surgery, with incidence ranging from 24% to 88.6%.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of metamorphopsia as a complication of RRD repair.
• To identify known risk factors, assessment methods, and current treatment limitations for postoperative metamorphopsia.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on metamorphopsia following RRD repair.
• Analysis of reported risk factors, diagnostic tools (Amsler grid, M-Charts), and therapeutic interventions.
• Evaluation of the association between metamorphopsia and visual outcomes.

Main Results:

• Key risk factors include macular involvement, retinal shift, outer retinal folds, subretinal fluid, epiretinal membrane formation, outer retinal damage, and surgical approach.
• The relationship between metamorphopsia and postoperative visual acuity/quality of life remains debated.
• Current treatments primarily manage subjective visual disturbances, with limited efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of metamorphopsia necessitates improved RRD prevention and meticulous control of identified risk factors.
• Further research is crucial for developing targeted metamorphopsia treatments, enhancing diagnostic methods, and improving microstructural assessment techniques.