This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Short-term external buckle effective in retinal detachments with inferior retinal breaks
Short-term placement of an external buckle with pneumatic retinopexy was effective in treating patients with a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with inferior retinal breaks, according to a study.
The retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series reviewed 33 eyes of 31 patients who underwent the procedure.
The external buckle consisted of a 505 sponge sutured along the blunt side of a 279 tyre (Mira). It was deeply embedded into the inferior fornix without suture after pneumatic retinopexy, the study authors said. The buckle remained in place for 3 days.
Mean follow-up was 24 months.
Twenty-nine eyes achieved successful reattachment within 6 months with no more treatment. The procedure failed in four eyes, but the eyes achieved reattachment with further treatment.
Mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.82 at baseline to 0.30 at the end of follow-up (P < .001).
This method may avoid the risk of complications due to long-term buckle implantation, the study authors said.