[Revision operations in retinal redetachment].

We analyzed retrospectively 239 consecutive patients who had undergone reoperation for repeat retinal detachment; 441 repeat operations were performed. The average follow-up was 2.1 years, and on average we noted 1.8 retinal redetachments per patient. At the last follow-up examination in 173 eyes (72.4%), the retina was reattached; 10.5% of the eyes had a partially detached retina and in 15.9% the retina was again completely detached. Enucleation was necessary in 3 eyes (1.2%). Visual improvement occurred in 45% of the eyes with reattachment of the retina. When the first retinal detachment occurred, 74 eyes were aphakic. Compared to the other 165 eyes there was no difference in anatomic or visual outcome. Aphakic eyes needed fewer additional reoperations (39%) compared to the phakic group (50%, p less than 0.01). One important reason for the surgery being unsuccessful was poor placement of the scleral buckle. In both groups equatorial placement of the scleral buckle led to anatomical success in more than 50%. The eyes in the aphakic group required more vitrectomies (47%) compared to the phakic eyes (34%, p less than 0.01).