Characteristics and outcomes of paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated by segmental scleral buckling plus an encircling element

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detach ment treated by segmental scleral buckling plus an encircling element. Methods A retrospective review was carried out of 15 consecutive paediatric patients (16 eyes). Results Thirteen of the 15 patients were male (87%), 2 (13%) were female. T heir average age was 10.9 years (range 6-18 years; median 10 years). Retina l detachment was caused by trauma in 9 of 16 eyes (56%), high myopia in 5 o f 16 eyes (31%) and had an unknown cause in 2 of 16 eyes (13%). Diagnosis w as delayed by more than 1 month in 10 of 16 eyes (63%). The visual acuity w as 6/60 or worse and the macula was detached on presentation in 13 of 16 ey es (81%). Two of 16 eyes (13%) had mild proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Fi nal reattachment was achieved in all cases. Of 11 eyes with a follow-up of 6 months or more, there was improvement in visual acuity in 7 (63%), and a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/20 or better in 5 (46%). Conclusion Paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is characterised by a delay in diagnosis and a high degree of macular involvement on presentat ion. Anatomical reattachment with segmental scleral buckling plus an encirc ling element was successful in all eyes, and improvement of visual acuity w as achieved in one-half of the eyes which had a follow-up of 6 months or mo re.