Re-vitrectomy for recurrent retinal detachment in post-vitrectomy eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Background Recurrent retinal detachment (Re-RD) usually affects the prognosis of surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Previous clinical studies of Re-RD were not specific. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of Re-RD in post-vitrectomy eyes with RRD and surgical outcomes after revitrectomy without combining it with retinectomy or scleral buckling. Methods This is a retrospective case series analyzed the ocular characteristics of 20 recurrent and contralateral eyes, evaluated the significance of the associations between variables before reoperation and the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and calculated the outcome of revitrectomy. Results Patients with phakic eyes, those undergoing only one surgery, and those with more than one break had better final BCVA. The final BCVA was negatively correlated with the axial length and positively correlated with the preoperative BCVA. Among the 12 eyes with no break detected before surgery, 11 (92%) were found to have a small crevice-like break beside the pigment scar of a large number of original laser spots. The single-operation complete retinal reattachment rate was 75%, the complete retinal reattachment rate was 80%, and the final incomplete retinal reattachment rate was 90%. The BCVA improved from 1.2 [+ or -] 0.6LogMAR (0.06 [+ or -] 0.25) before surgery to 0.8 [+ or -] 0.7LogMAR (0.15 [+ or -] 0.2) at the last follow-up. The BCVA of 16 patients with complete retinal reattachment improved from 1.0 [+ or -] 0.5LogMAR (0.1 [+ or -] 0.3) to 0.6 [+ or -] 0.4LogMAR (0.25 [+ or -] 0.4). In the contralateral eyes, 15% already had vision-damaging disease, and the incidence of eyesight-threating lesions was 5.9% during follow-up. Conclusions Revitrectomy without retinectomy or scleral buckling can effectively treat Re-RD in post-vitrectomy eyes. In Re-RD patients with no definite retinal break detected preoperatively, the retinal hole usually shows small crevice-like changes alongside a large number of original laser pigment scars. Keywords: Recurrent retinal detachment, Pars plana vitrectomy, Re-vitrectomy, Post-vitrectomy eye, Contralateral eye