Anatomical and visual outcomes after vitreoretinal surgery in paediatric retinal detachment

Paediatric vitreoretinal surgery (PVRS) has unique set of challenges compared to surgery in adult eyes. An understanding of ocular growth and development is an important consideration in PVRS. Changes in ciliary body dimensions with age may affect how sclerotomies are placed, so as to avoid iatrogenic damage to the peripheral retina. To study the visual and anatomical outcomes after vitreoretinal surgery in paediatric age group after retinal detachment. In this prospective interventional study, 20 consecutive patients aged 18 years or younger undergoing vitreoretinal surgery for retinal detachment were included. A detailed ocular and systemic history was recorded from all patients. Pre and postoperative data were collected. All the evaluated eyes were followed up to 3 months. Outcome of surgery was measured in terms of improvement in visual acuity and retinal status. Twenty eyes of 20 patients were evaluated with male predominance (75%) and mean age of the patient was 16.4±2.01. Most common etiology was found to be trauma (65%) followed by myopia (30%). Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was done in 50% patients, lensectomy with vitrectomy was done in 15%, scleral buckle (SB) surgery was done in 25% cases, where as PPV-SB was done in 10% cases. Improvement in visual acuity was noted in 85% cases. Primary anatomical success was achieved in 80% cases. PPV was the major surgical procedure in our study due to complexity of RD. Postoperative visual rehabilitation was also done to fight amblyopia as far as possible.