Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study: Methodology and Overall Outcomes—Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study Report Number 1

To detail the methodology for a large multicenter retrospective cohort study (RCS) of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with detailed data collection and to present overall anatomic outcomes. This study used an RCS method. All patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling (SB), and combined PPV/SB for primary RRD in 2015 from 5 large retina groups were included in the database. To ensure validity of the cohort method, a large and detailed database was generated. Double data entry validation was conducted, and data audits were conducted. Anatomic and visual outcomes for all the cases in the dataset will be described but not compared, because the cases were not matched. In future studies, comparable cases of moderate-complexity RRD will be chosen naive to surgeon, surgery, and outcome for subgroup analysis. Precision of data entry was confirmed by inter-rater reliability (IRR). Main surgical outcome for each procedure type was single-surgery anatomic success (SSAS). Inter-rater reliability showed significant agreement among raters (P < 0.001). Of 2620 patients, 2335 had >90 days of follow-up. Of these, 320 eyes (13.7%) underwent SB, 1200 eyes (51.4%) underwent PPV, and 815 eyes (34.9%) underwent PPV/SB. The SSAS was 84.2% for PPV, 91.2% for SB, and 90.2% for PPV/SB. We compiled a large, accurately documented database of primary RRD cases repaired by PPV, SB, and PPV/SB from which cohort studies of moderately complex RRDs can be carried out. All 3 approaches had a high SSAS rate. Procedures chosen and their outcomes are described, but the broad case mix makes comparisons not possible until future cohort studies are completed.