Scleral Buckling with Viscoelastics or Gas Injection for Bulging Retinal Detachments: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of a viscoelastic agent instead of air in the vitreous cavity during surgery for scleral buckling. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent scleral buckling surgery for bulging rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) at Ningbo Eye Hospital from 07/2016 to 12/2019. The patients were grouped into drainage, air injection, cryotherapy and explant (DACE) and drainage, viscoelastic injection, cryotherapy, and explant (DVCE) groups, which were comparatively assessed. RESULTS: There were 25 and 22 patients in the DVCE and DACE groups, respectively. The surgery was significantly shorter with DVCE than DACE (P < 0.05), with less intraoperative external pressure adjustment (P < 0.05). BCVA was lower in the DVCE group at 1 week compared with the DACE group (P < 0.05). Successful retinal reattachment was observed in 92.0% and 81.8% of the DVCE and DACE groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Cases requiring laser replenishing after the operation were less in the DVCE group compared with the DACE group (P < 0.05). There were no differences in complications and intraocular pressure between the two groups (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DVCE has better operative characteristics and faster vision recovery than DACE, with similar outcomes.