One "8"-shaped scleral suture to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a refined procedure of minimal scleral buckling

The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of one "8"-shaped scleral suture of minimal scleral buckling (MSB) surgery without sub-retinal drainage for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treatment. Thirty patients (30 eyes) with RRD were recruited. Thirty eyes with RRD were repaired by one "8"-shaped scleral suture of minimal buckling without subretinal drainage by one surgeon. The refined MSB procedure is described. Reattachment time and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were observed. The age of the 30 patients ranged from 17 to 65 years (mean, 43.1 ± 8.6 years). The retinas of 19 eyes (63.3%) reattached within 12 h of the operations, and those of 11 eyes (67%) reattached within 72 h. The average time of follow-up was 10.4 ± 2.8 months. BCVAs were increased in 27 eyes (90%), whereas those of 3 eyes did not change. The mean preoperative BCVA was 0.738 ± 0.368 log minimal angle of resolution (MAR), and mean postoperative BCVA was 0.422 ± 0.278 logMAR, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The sponge for buckling in only one eye exposed from the conjunctiva was taken out, and the retina remained attached. In conclusion, an "8"-shaped scleral suture of MSB without sub-retinal drainage is an efficient procedure to treat selected RRD cases.