Retinal function after scleral buckling for recent onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: assessment with electroretinography and optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE: To investigate central and peripheral retinal function after scleral buckling surgery for recent onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: Fifteen phakic patients with rhegmatogenous RD for <1 week underwent scleral buckling surgery. Clinical investigation, optical coherence tomography (OCT), full-field electroretinography (ERG), and multifocal ERG (mfERG) with fundus illumination were performed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Anatomical success was achieved in 14 patients. mfERG amplitudes were reduced preoperatively in detached retina, with significant improvement at follow-up (P = 0.002). Foveal amplitudes improved significantly (P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in postoperative mfERG amplitudes between areas that had been preoperatively detached or attached (P = 0.739). In the subgroup of eight patients in whom the detachment engaged the fovea preoperatively, rod function improved significantly as assessed with full-field ERG (P = 0.008). In these patients, the extent of detachment ranged between 4 clock hours and 6 clock hours, as compared with 2 clock hours and 5 clock hours in the remaining patients. OCT showed subretinal foveal fluid in four patients at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In recent onset rhegmatogenous RD, total rod and localized central retinal dysfunction in detached retina can improve significantly after reattachment. mfERG and OCT are suitable tools for further studies of functional outcomes in RD.