Retinotomy versus encircling scleral buckling in the vitroretinal surgery for recurrent inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in silicone oil-filled eyes

Purpose: To analyze the results of the treatment of recurrent inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) in silicone oil (SO) tamponade eyes depending on the volume of surgical intervention: pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with encircling scleral buckling (SB) versus PPV with retinotomy (RT) Materials and methods: 27 patients (27 eyes) with recurrent inferior RRD in silicone oil-filled eyes were included in this retrospective study who were treated in our clinic from 2010 to 2020. 27 eyes were alternatively distributed between 2 groups: PPV with SB (9 eyes), PPV with RT (18 eyes). The primary outcome measures were the achievement of the surgical goal without recurrence of RRD and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: After the treatment of the recurrence anatomical outcomes were similar in the PPV+SB and PPV+RT groups (p = 0.7). In the analysis of anatomical success in the period before and after 3 months, both groups showed the similar result. (p = 0.1). There was statistically significant improvement of BCVA in group PPV+SB (P = 0.04) Conclusion: After primary PPV PPV+SB surgery provides similar effectiveness with satisfactory anatomic outcomes compared to the PPV+RT. For eyes with recurrent inferior RRD in periods less than 3 months, pPv+SB may be a better choice for functional outcomes as an alternative to PPV+RT. While in the period of more than 3 months, according to the functional outcome, PPV+RT does not differ from PPV+SB.