Primary Retinal Detachment
Primary Retinal Detachment
Primary Retinal Detachment
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134<br />
6 Minimal Segmental Buckling With Sponges and Balloons<br />
To analyze whether this slight decrease in visual function could be<br />
due to the presence of the segmental buckle or to secondary complications,<br />
the visual acuity of the fellow eyes was compared with the<br />
operated eyes at all intervals. There was no significant difference<br />
(P=0.079) in visual acuity over the 15 years. In this context, the<br />
data of Slataper are of value [50]. He had plotted the visual acuity<br />
of 17,349 individuals as a function of age and found that after the<br />
age of 60, a linear decrease of 0.07 lines per year on the Snellen<br />
chart occurs and that this decrease is age-dependent. There is no<br />
statistically significant difference between the observed decrease<br />
over the years, determined by Slataper, and the one in the analyzed<br />
operated eyes.<br />
Thus, postoperative visual acuity (even when including the<br />
surgical failures) with a maximum of 0.6 at 1 year after surgery had<br />
only slightly decreased to 0.5 during 15 years. There was no statistically<br />
significant difference from the course in the fellow eyes over<br />
the ensuing 15 years; it was due to aging.<br />
Series 2 through 5, with a combined total of 710 retinal detachments<br />
treated with segmental sponges or balloons without drainage,<br />
provide useful data on postoperative visual acuity and its<br />
course over 2 years (Table 6.4) to 15 years (Fig. 6.15). The long-term<br />
postoperative visual acuity of the eyes treated with sewed-on buckles,<br />
limited to short segmental sponges to close the retinal breaks,<br />
confirm that minimal segmental buckling has no negative effect on<br />
long-term visual function.<br />
Disadvantages of <strong>Primary</strong> Minimal Segmental Buckling<br />
Without Drainage<br />
Disadvantages of primary minimal segmental buckling without<br />
drainage are as follows:<br />
1. Preparation for a minimal buckle operation, limited to the<br />
break and without drainage, requires extensive preoperative