Outcome of surgery in patients with giant retinal tear: 10 years experience

Purpose To present our experience with the surgery in retinal detachment (RD) associated with giant retinal tear (GRT) over 10 years in a tertiary referral hospital. Patients and Methods In this retrospective study, the charts of all patients with the diagnosis of RD associated with GRT who underwent surgery from 2005 to 2015 at Rassoul Akram Hospital were reviewed. Exclusion criteria were concomitant presence of diabetic retinopathy, and uveitis. All patients had to have at least 3 months of follow up. The success rate and factors associated with repeated surgery were determined. Results Sixty two eyes of 61 patients including 51 males and 10 females were assessed. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) was present in 14 (22.6%) of eyes. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) alone was performed in 44 eye (71.0%) and simultaneous vitrectomy and phacoemulsification surgery was performed in 18 eyes (29.0%). An encircling episcleral band was placed in 7 eyes (11.3%). Anatomic success after one vitrectomy procedure was achieved in 45 eyes (72.58%) and ultimately in 61 eyes (98.4%) at last follow up. Seventeen eyes needed repeated PPV due to redetachment associated with PVR in the follow up period. The rate of repeated PPV was significantly higher in eyes with PVR at baseline and surgery with encircling episcleral band. Trauma, extension of tear, age, and lens status had no significant effect on the rate of repeated PPV. Conclusions Our study shows that the high surgical success can be achieved in patients with RD associated with GRT with single or multiple surgeries.