The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treatment patterns

Backgrounds To describe changes in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgical procedures in Beijing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods A retrospective cohort of RRD patients was analyzed. Patients were divided into the COVID-19 pandemic group and pre-COVID-19 group according to their presentation. The presurgery characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgery outcomes were collected. The potential factors related to the choice of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or scleral buckling (SB) were analyzed using logistic regression. The differences in the procedure choice under specific conditions were compared. Surgery outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results In the COVID-19 pandemic group, less patients received SB (27.8, 41.3%, p = 0.02) while more patients received PPV (72.2, 58.6%, p = 0.02); in patients who received SB, fewer patients received subretinal fluid drainage (45.4,75.7%, p = 0.01); in patients who received PPV, fewer patients received phacovitrectomy (7.0, 21.0%, p = 0.02). The choice of PPV was related to older age (1.03, p = 0.005), the presence of RRD with choroidal detachment (RRD-CD) (2.92, p = 0.03), pseudophakia (5.0, p = 0.002), retinal breaks located posterior to the equator (4.87, p < 0.001), macular holes (9.76, p = 0.005), and a presurgery visual acuity (VA) less than 0.02 (0.44, p = 0.03). Fewer phakia patients with retinal breaks located posterior to the equator (1/28, 11/30, p = 0.01) and fewer patients with chronic RRD and subretinal strand (1/9, 9/16, p = 0.03) received SB in the COVID-19 pandemic group. There were more patients with improved VA (55.7, 40.2%, p = 0.03) in the COVID-19 pandemic group. The overall single-surgery retinal attachment rate was similar in the two groups (94.9, 94.5%, p = 0.99). Conclusions During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the main reason for the increased number of PPV in RRD treatment was that more complicated cases were presented. However, the surgeons were conservative in procedure choice in specific cases. The adjustments on RRD treatments lead to comparable surgery outcomes.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treatment Patterns

Background: To describe changes in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgical procedures in Beijing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods:A retrospective cohort of RRD patients was analyzed. Patients were divided into the COVID-19 pandemic group and pre-COVID-19 group according to their presentation. The presurgery characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgery outcomes were collected. The potential factors related to the choice of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or scleral buckling (SB) were analyzed using logistic regression. The differences in the procedure choice under specific conditions were compared. Surgery outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results:In the COVID-19 pandemic group, less patients received SB (27.8%, 41.3%, p=0.02) while more patients received PPV (72.2%, 58.6%, p=0.02); in patients who received SB, fewer patients received subretinal fluid drainage (45.4%,75.7%, p=0.01); in patients who received PPV, fewer patients received phacovitrectomy (7.0%, 21.0%, p=0.02). The choice of PPV was related to older age (1.03, p=0.005), the presence of RRD with choroidal detachment (RRD-CD) (2.92, p=0.03), pseudophakia (5.0, p=0.002), retinal breaks located posterior to the equator(4.87, p<0.001), macular holes (9.76, p=0.005), and a presurgery visual acuity (VA) less than 0.02 (0.44 , p=0.03). Fewer phakia patients with retinal breaks located posterior to the equator (1/28, 11/30, p=0.01) and fewer patients with chronic RRD and subretinal strand (1/9, 9/16, p=0.03) received SB in the COVID-19 pandemic group. More patients with improved VA (55.7%, 40.2%, p=0.03) in the COVID-19 pandemic group. The overall single-surgery retinal attachment rate was similar in the two groups (94.9%, 94.5%, p=0.99).Conclusions:During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main reason for the increased number of PPV in RRD treatment was that more complicated cases were presented. However, the surgeons were conservative in procedure choice in specific cases. The adjustments on RRD treatments leads to comparable surgery outcomes.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treatment Patterns

Background: To describe changes in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgical procedures in Beijing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods:A retrospective cohort of RRD patients was analyzed. Patients were divided into the COVID-19 pandemic group and pre-COVID-19 group according to their presentation. The presurgery characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgery outcomes were collected. The potential factors related to the choice of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or scleral buckling (SB) were analyzed using logistic regression. The differences in the procedure choice under specific conditions were compared. Surgery outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results:In the COVID-19 pandemic group, less patients received SB (27.8%, 41.3%, p=0.02) while more patients received PPV (72.2%, 58.6%, p=0.02); in patients who received SB, fewer patients received subretinal fluid drainage (45.4%,75.7%, p=0.01); in patients who received PPV, fewer patients received phacovitrectomy (7.0%, 21.0%, p=0.02). The choice of PPV was related to older age (1.03, p=0.005), the presence of RRD with choroidal detachment (RRD-CD) (2.92, p=0.03), pseudophakia (5.0, p=0.002), retinal breaks located posterior to the equator(4.87, p<0.001), macular holes (9.76, p=0.005), and a presurgery visual acuity (VA) less than 0.02 (0.44 , p=0.03). Fewer phakia patients with retinal breaks located posterior to the equator (1/28, 11/30, p=0.01) and fewer patients with chronic RRD and subretinal strand (1/9, 9/16, p=0.03) received SB in the COVID-19 pandemic group. More patients with improved VA (55.7%, 40.2%, p=0.03) in the COVID-19 pandemic group. The overall single-surgery retinal attachment rate was similar in the two groups (94.9%, 94.5%, p=0.99).Conclusions:During the COVID-19 pandemic, the main reason for the increased number of PPV in RRD treatment was that more complicated cases were presented. However, the surgeons were conservative in procedure choice in specific cases. The adjustments on RRD treatments leads to comparable surgery outcomes.

Segmental Scleral Buckle Surgical Technique for Repair of a Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Retinoblastoma: A Case and Review of the Literature

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The aim of this study was to describe the surgical repair of a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with a posterior break in a child with retinoblastoma (RB). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Retrospective case report and review of the English language literature. Retrospective review of an 11-month-old male with bilateral retinoblastoma who developed a RRD with a posterior retinal break in his better-seeing eye after treatment with cryotherapy. A review of all published cases to date of RRD in patients with RB is presented. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The patient underwent a posterior segmental scleral buckle without subretinal fluid drainage with successful reattachment of the retina and no extraocular extension of RB. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> RRDs in RB patients may be successfully repaired with anatomic success and no extraocular tumor extension. Even for patients with a posterior break, a segmental scleral buckle without drainage of subretinal fluid is a viable option and long-term excellent vision is a possible outcome.

Multimodal imaging in retinal pigment epithelium rip with exudative bullous retinal detachment

A middle-aged man presented with exudative retinal detachment in the left eye. He was previously diagnosed as a case of large pigment epithelial detachment in the same eye, for which he was asked to follow-up closely, citing the risk of an retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) rip. Multimodal imaging confirmed the presence of a large RPE rip with exudative retinal detachment. He is a known retrovirus patient on anti-retroviral therapy with stable CD4 counts. He was diagnosed as a possible case of bullous variant of central serous chorioretinopathy and underwent external subretinal fluid drainage. We highlight the multimodal imaging findings of RPE rip with exudative retinal detachment and its impact on the patients visual acuity.

Standardized scleral buckling approach in the management of noncomplex primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Purpose: To analyze the anatomical and functional outcomes of a standardized scleral buckling approach in patients with noncomplex primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: Retrospective institutional case series of 135 eyes of 131 patients diagnosed with noncomplex primary RRD. All patients underwent scleral buckling surgery with the placement of an encircling 5 mm oval sponge at 15 ± 2 mm posteriorly from the limbus, cryopexy, subretinal fluid drainage, and air tamponade. Results: Final anatomical success at 12 months was achieved in all 135 eyes (100%). Primary anatomical surgical success was obtained in 127 out of 135 eyes (94%), while re-detachment occurred in eight out of 135 cases (6%). Primary anatomical success was significantly lower in pseudophakic eyes ( p < 0.001). At the end of the follow-up period, no vision loss was observed in any patient and both sphere and cylinder refraction shift was mild. There was a low rate of postoperative complications. Nine out of 135 eyes (6.6%) developed full thickness macular hole, whether in 24 out of 135 eyes (17.8%) epiretinal membrane development was noticed. Conclusion: A standardized scleral buckling approach for primary noncomplex RRD may be effective. The technique is reproducible, easier, and quicker to perform if compared to classic scleral buckling procedures, suggesting that it may represent a valuable surgical option. Special care is needed in the management of pseudophakic RRD due to higher risk of RRD recurrence.

Quadrantic vortex vein decompression with subretinal fluid drainage for manangement of Nanophthalmic choroidal effusions— a review of literature and case series

Background Uveal effusion syndrome is a rare entity of idiopathic exudative detachments of uveal tissues and retina. Medical treatments with systemic steroids and antimetabolites have been tried but with variable results. Scleral windows or vortex decompressions are usually performed and surgeons usually perform partial sclerectomy in all the quadrants. Case presentation For the first time, we report 2 cases of nanophthalmic uveal effusion syndrome managed with our technique. Conclusion Quadrantic vortex vein decompression with external drainage for nanophthalmic uveal effusion can provide immediate and stable gain in vision.