Characteristics and Outcomes of Simultaneous Bilateral Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To better understand the clinical course and outcomes of simultaneous bilateral retinal detachments managed by modern vitreoretinal surgical techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 21 patients (42 eyes) presenting between April 2000 and June 2015 with simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity (VA) improved from 20/100 at presentation to 20/40 at last follow-up (P = .01). The mean final VA for patients undergoing scleral buckle (SB) alone was 20/30 (log MAR 0.17), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) alone was 20/40 (logMAR 0.33), and combined PPV/SB was 20/80 (logMAR 0.59) (P = .019). Primary reattachment rate in this series was 98%. CONCLUSION: In contrast to prior studies, which investigated the management of simultaneous bilateral retinal detachments primarily by SB alone, multiple treatment modalities were utilized in this study, including vitrectomy alone, and overall success of retinal detachment repair was high regardless of treatment modality chosen. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:840-845.].