Atrophic tear retinal detachment: clinical characteristics and surgical treatment results at long term.

AIM: to analyse clinical and epidemiological characteristics of atrophic tear retinal detachment (ATRD) and evaluate anatomical and functional results.

METHODS: Retrospective study of 48 cases underwent primary scleral buckling for ATRD. Mean follow up was 80,52 months.

RESULTS: ATRD represented 7% of all reghmatogenous RD. Mean age of patients was 38 years and 7 months. Age was less than 40 years in 62,5% of patients. Male predominance was noted. Myopia was noted in 67% of cases and 78,12% presented high myopia. Mean delay of consultation was 7 months ranging from 1 and 60 months. Visual acuity was ranged between light perception to 10/10. The AT number in eye varied between1 to 15 (mean 3 tears). The seat of AT was preferentially in inferior temporal quadrants than superior one. Maculae was detached in 87,5% of cases. All patients underwent scleral buckling: longitudinal buckle was performed in 27% of cases, radial sponge was put on in 8,3% of eyes and circumferential one was made in 64,5% of cases. Sub-retinal fluid was punctured in 75% od cases. Retinal reattachment was obtained in all cases; after one surgery in 95,83% of cases. Redetachment was observed in 2 cases: it was linked with unknown AT. Visual acuity was improved in 83,3% of cases. It was more than 5/10 in 14,6% of cases. Postoperative hypertonia was observed in 18,75% of cases. Choroidal detachment was observed in one case and it was resolved spontaneously. Scleral bukle rejection was observed in one case.

CONCLUSION: ATRD was not associated at posterior vitreous detachment. It was observed in young myopic patients. There is a chronic form of retinal detachment with many tears. Scleral buckle was the surgical treatment of this type of RD with good anatomical prognostic.