DRUSEN REGRESSION AFTER MACULA-INVOLVING RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT REPAIR.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of macula-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair on drusen regression.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients with drusen who underwent macula-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair. Longitudinal optical coherence tomography scans were reviewed by three graders, and each case was grouped into one of three categories: drusen regression, drusen persistence, or mixed.

Results: In total, 14 eyes with drusen that underwent macula-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair were identified. Surgical repair consisted of pars plana vitrectomy in seven eyes, combined pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckle in six eyes, and primary buckle with cryotherapy in one eye. Regression of drusen occurred in six eyes (43%), persistence of drusen in five eyes (36%), and three eyes were categorized as mixed (21%). One patient with drusen regression with long-term follow-up resulted in geographic atrophy.

Conclusion: Although the course of drusen after repair of macula-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachments was highly variable, roughly half of eyes demonstrated marked drusen regression.