Photoreceptor Disruption Related to Persistent Submacular Fluid after Successful Scleral Buckle Surgery

Purpose: To investigate serial changes in photoreceptor status and associated visual outcome in patients with persistent submacular fluid after successful scleral buckle surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Methods: This was a prospective observational case series including 76 consecutive patients who underwent successful scleral buckle surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with symptom duration ≤90 days at a single tertiary hospital. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity examination were performed at one month and three months postoperatively and at three-month intervals until the submacular fluid disappeared. Main outcome measures were postoperative photoreceptor status on OCT and visual acuity. Results: Forty-two patients (55.3%) showed persistent submacular fluid at postoperative one month. Of 42 patients with persistent submacular fluid, three (7.1%) showed photoreceptor disruption on OCT. None of the 34 patients without persistent submacular fluid showed photoreceptor disruption. Two patients (4.8%) had progressive photoreceptor disruption, and one patient (2.4%) had early photoreceptor disruption. All three patients showed photoreceptor reappearance and limited visual restoration after absorption of submacular fluid. Final visual acuities were significantly worse in these three patients (20 / 1000, 20 / 133, and 20 / 133) compared to those of the other patients (mean, 20 / 30) with persistent submacular fluid and intact photoreceptors. Conclusions: Even after successful scleral buckle surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, photoreceptor disruption can occur related to persistent submacular fluid and may be a cause of poor visual outcome.