To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 27-gauge sutureless vitrectomy with air tamponade for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

The clinical data of 35 consecutive eyes with primary RRD from 35 patients who received 27-gauge vitrectomy with intraocular air tamponade in Zhongshan Eye Center from April 2016 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.The mean follow-up duration was 8.6 months.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (LogMAR) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were examined before surgery, 1 week and 3 months after surgery.The operative duration, sclerotomy sites, retinal reattachment rate, intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

The mean duration of vitreous removal was (15.3±3.6) minutes, and the mean duration of operation was (34.5±4.8) minutes.No suturing process was performed at sclerotomy sites in all eyes.The retinal reattachment rate following a single procedure was 100%.The mean BCVA was significantly different among before surgery, 1 week and 3 months after surgery (F=64.12, P<0.01), and the BCVA at 1 week and 3 months after surgery was evidently improved in comparison with before surgery (0.82±0.31 vs. 1.01±0.40; 0.68±0.30 vs.1.01±0.40) (both at P<0.05). The mean IOP was (14.69±3.66), (17.37±2.32) and (16.69±2.45)mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) before surgery, 1 week and 3 months after surgery, showing a significant difference among them (F=14.82, P<0.01), and the IOP 1 week and 3 months after surgery was evidently higher than that before surgery (both at P<0.05). The complications included intraoperative iatrogenic retinal breaks in 2 eyes, postoperative hypotony in 1 eye and hypertension in 5 eyes.These complications were curable.

27-Gauge vitrectomy and air tamponade for RRD is an effective and safe approach.

Vitrectomy/instrumentation; Vitrectomy/methods; Intraocular air tamponade; Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment/surgery; Treatment outcome; Complications; Retrospective studies