Four Cases of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment That Recurred More than 10 Years after Initial Reattachment by Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to present our findings in 4 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) that recurred 10, 11, 12, and 17 years after a reattachment surgery by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Methods: Four cases of a recurrent RRD had undergone scleral buckling surgery and vitrectomy. Patients: The recurrence of the RRD was observed 10-17 years after the successful attachment by PPV. The macula was detached in all cases, and none of the eyes had severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The cause of the recurrence was a new retinal break in 3 eyes and a reopening of an old retinal break in the other eye. The new breaks had a punched-out shape and had neither a horseshoe tear nor an atrophic hole associated with lattice degeneration. PPV combined with scleral buckling was performed, and a reattachment was achieved in all cases. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the last visit ranged from 20/30 to 20/25, but the BCVA in 1 eye was 20/200 because of amblyopia. Conclusions: We experienced 4 rare cases of a recurrent retinal detachment 10-17 years after the primary RRD. PPV and scleral buckling were effective and the anatomical and the functional outcomes were good.

Automated summary

This study reported 4 cases of recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment 10-17 years after primary reattachment surgery by pars plana vitrectomy. The new retinal breaks were punched-out shaped without horseshoe tears or atrophic holes, and all cases achieved reattachment with combined vitrectomy and scleral buckling surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/30 to 20/25 among patients.