ABSTRACT

Objectives:

To compare the results of scleral buckling surgery with and without use of operating microscope for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Materials and Methods:

This comparative study consisted of 74 eyes of 74 patients who underwent scleral buckling for primary RRD. Group 1 consisted of 35 patients (17 male and 18 female) who were operated using operating microscope and Group 2 consisted of 39 patients (19 male and 20 female) who were operated without operating microscope. Patients with post-equatorial breaks, retinal breaks greater than 90°, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (≥C2), and those with follow-up period of less than sıx months were excluded from the study. The two groups were compared based on age, sex, etiology, anatomic success, and surgical complications (scleral perforation, iatrogenic retinal breaks, vitreous hemorrhage, buckle malposition, and vortex vein damage).

Results:

Mean age was 64.11±7.91 years (range, 55-79 years) in Group 1 and 65.20±6.15 years (range, 56-80 years,) in Group 2. Mean age and gender were not statistically significantly different between the groups (p=0.508 and p=0.990, respectively). Etiological causes were revealed as myopia, peripheral retinal degeneration, pseudophakia, aphakia, trauma, and idiopathic. Etiological causes were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05, for all). Surgical complication rates were higher in Group 2, however, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05, for all). Anatomical success rates was similar between the two groups (80% in Group 1 and 79.5% in Group 2, p=0.956).

Conclusion:

The results of scleral buckling surgery with and without use of operating microscope were not significantly different; However, operating microscope should be used especially in presence of risk factors for scleral complications.