Indications and outcomes of scleral buckle removal in a tertiary eye care center in South India

PURPOSE: To study the clinical profile of patients undergoing scleral buckle removal (SBR) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing SBR surgery following scleral buckle for retinal detachment repair between January 2002 and December 2011 with a minimum postSBR follow-up of 6 months were included in this study. A record based on analysis of indications, methods, complications, and outcomes of the eyes was performed. RESULTS: One hundred and two eyes of 101 patients (men = 77; 76.24% and women = 24; 23.76%) belonging to the age group of 15–78 years (mean 50 ± 15 years) were included in this study. Time gap between scleral buckle and SBR ranged from 2 to 216 months (mean 61 ± 51 months). Buckle exposure with clinical infection (81; 79.41%) was the most common indication. Of 90 (88.2%) eyes with positive culture, 75 (83.3%) revealed single and 15 (16.6%) revealed multiple microorganisms. Staphylococcus epidermidis (42; 41.2%), was the most common isolate. Fungus was isolated in 3 (2.94%) eyes. Globe perforation (14; 13.7%) and recurrent retinal detachment (7; 6.9%) were the commonest complications. Time gap between SBR and recurrent retinal detachment ranged from 15 days to 50 months (mean 12.2 ± 18.3 months). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the exposed scleral buckles developed clinical infection few months to years after surgery, ultimately requiring SBR. Recurrent retinal detachment after SBR may appear from few days to years later warranting a long-term follow-up.