The learning curve for primary vitrectomy without scleral buckling for pseudophakic retinal detachment

Background  To assess the functional and anatomical outcome of primary vitrectomy without scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in pseudophakic patients and to present the learning curve for this surgery in less experienced surgeons. Methods  We reviewed the charts of pseudophakic patients treated with primary vitrectomy without scleral buckling for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with PVRp = 0.37). In another series of 239 patients operated on by less experienced surgeons, the success rate obtained at the beginning of the training period for less experienced surgeons significantly increased after 2 years (from 66.7% to 80%, p < 0.049). Conclusion  Primary vitrectomy without scleral buckling is an effective procedure to treat pseudophakic retinal detachment. Less experienced surgeons need sufficient time to achieve acceptable success rates, reflecting the learning curve for this procedure. Funding: none Financial disclosure: none Institutional review board approval was obtained for this study. The study protocol adhered to tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. The following ISRCTN has been assigned to our trial: ISRCTN88931004 - The authors have full control of all primary data, and they allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.