The Impact of Social Support on Postoperative Recovery in Retinal Detachment Surgery

Background and Objectives: Retinal detachment is a severe ophthalmological condition requiring urgent surgical intervention and comprehensive postoperative management. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of perceived social support (PSS) on postoperative adherence, pain management, and reintervention rates in patients undergoing retinal detachment surgery. It was hypothesized that higher levels of PSS would be associated with better postoperative outcomes, particularly in adherence and anxiety management. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted with 166 patients at a tertiary hospital between 2022 and 2024. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and PSS was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.96). The primary outcomes included adherence to postoperative recommendations, reintervention rates, additional analgesic use, and local complications. Given the non-normal distribution of key variables, non-parametric statistical analyses were performed, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: PSS scores were consistently high (median: 5; IQR: 4.7-5.0). Adherence rates were excellent (100% at 7 and 15 days; 99.04% at 30 days). Reintervention rates remained low (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% at 7, 15, and 30 days, respectively). The need for additional analgesia decreased significantly over time (46.43% at 7 days vs. 13.33% at 30 days; p = 0.041). Preoperative anxiety was significantly associated with higher postoperative analgesic consumption (median STAI score: 38 [IQR: 34-42], p = 0.041). A significant relationship was found between higher preoperative anxiety levels and greater postoperative analgesic use (p = 0.041). However, no significant associations were found between PSS and major clinical outcomes such as reintervention or complications. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PSS may influence adherence to postoperative recommendations, although its direct impact on clinical outcomes remains uncertain. The significant association between higher preoperative anxiety and increased postoperative analgesic consumption highlights the need for psychosocial and educational interventions in RD surgical care. These results support a multidisciplinary approach incorporating psychosocial support alongside surgical treatment to optimize patient outcomes.