The Effect of Steroid Intervention before Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Associated with Choroidal Detachment: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This meta-analysis discusses the effectiveness of steroid intervention before vitrectomy in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials and observational studies published until August 2023. We included studies involving: patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy; an experimental group that was not administered steroids and a control group that was administered steroids; and assessment of visual acuity, retinal reattachment rate, and complications. The heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were performed to ensure the statistical power and reliability of the analysis.

RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials and four case-control studies involving 490 eyes were included in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in the primary and final retinal reattachment rates after surgery between the steroid and non-steroid groups (primary retinal reattachment rate: odds ratio = 1.01, 95% confidence interval = 0.63-1.63, p  = .41; final retinal reattachment rate: odds ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.43-1.59, p  = .33). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative visual acuity improvement between the two groups (odds ratio = 1.19, confidence interval = 0.63-2.25, p  = .69). In addition, subgroup analyses of different types of steroids showed that systemic and local administration of steroids had similar results for retinal reattachment rate and visual acuity improvement.

CONCLUSION: Patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment who did not receive preoperative steroids achieved the same effect as patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment who did receive preoperative steroids in terms of retinal reattachment rate and visual acuity. It is recommended that patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment undergo surgery as promptly as possible.