Scleral buckling versus vitrectomy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Introduction Retinal detachment (RD) surgery is the most common retinal surgery performed. RD can be repaired either by scleral buckling (SB) or pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Pneumoretinopexy, laser delimitation or observation can be done in selected cases. The decision to perform SB or vitrectomy depends on various factors, including age of the patient, duration and extent of RD, presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) changes, the number, location and size of retinal breaks and the lens status. Other factors which influence the decision are availability of operating room equipment or staff, various patient factors (especially expected compliance with positioning after surgery) and surgeon preference. Until about a decade ago, SB was the preferred procedure, but there is a general trend towards vitrectomy with the development of newer technology. There are several retrospective and prospective studies which compare SB and vitrectomy for primary RD. The anatomical and visual outcomes following retinal reattachment surgeries reported in the recent peer-reviewed literature will be discussed in this article.