Abstract

Background: The goal was to review the visual and anatomical outcome ofscleral buckling for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment at a tertiary eye care center in Nigeriabetween January 1994 and December 2000. Material/Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive caseseries of all eyes that had undergone scleral buckling over a 7-year study period. Data collected fromthe case notes included duration of symptoms, visual acuity at presentation and 3 and 6 months post-op,clinical presentation of the detachments, risk factors for retinal detachment, the surgical proceduredone, anatomical outcome at discharge and at 3 and 6 months post-op, and intra-op and post-op complications.Results: Ninety-eight eyes of 98 patients underwent scleral buckling for primary rhegmatogenous retinaldetachment during the study period. The mean age was 42 years. The male-to-female ratio was 3.7:1. Themean duration of symptoms was 29.7 weeks. Seventy-six eyes (77.6%) had subtotal to total retinal detachment,with 91 (92.9%) eyes having macular detachment. The surgical technique was cryotherapy, sub-retinal fluiddrainage, and explant. At 3 months post-op, 40/54 (74.1%) eyes had successful anatomical outcome. Only52% (21/40) of these eyes had the best corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or better at 3 months post-op.Conclusions: In Nigeria, and possibly many developing countries, efforts should be made towards earlydiagnosis and treatment of retinal detachments with adequate expertise and facilities.

Keywords: Adolescent, Child, Nigeria, Retinal Detachment - surgery, Scleral Buckling