Evaluation of hyaloid–retinal relationship during triamcinolone-assisted vitrectomy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Aims: To determine hyaloid–retinal relationship in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during vitreous surgery. Methods: This is a prospective, interventional study of patients (n = 72) undergoing triamcinolone-assisted 25G vitreous surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Hyaloid–retinal relationship was noted intraoperatively to identify regions and patterns of firm attachment and was classified into subgroups. Analysis was done to determine association between hyaloid–retinal relationship patterns and preoperative findings: posterior vitreous detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, type of retinal tear, the presence of peripheral degenerations, and postoperative outcomes. Results: Three patterns of hyaloid–retinal relationship were identified: type1 (complete absence of posterior vitreous detachment (21%)), type 2 (incomplete posterior vitreous detachment (47%)) and type 3 (complete posterior vitreous detachment (32%)). Posterior vitreous detachment in some form was present in 84% of the cases with retinal tears as the causative break but none of the cases with retinal holes (p < 0.001). None of the cases with vitreoretinal degeneration had complete posterior vitreous detachment (p = 0.001). 69% of proliferative vitreoretinopathy–C cases had type 1 hyaloid–retinal relationship as compared to 11% cases with no proliferative vitreoretinopathy (p < 0.001). Proliferative vitreoretinopathy-related anatomical failure was seen in 7.5%, and 80% of these eyes with recurrent RD had type 1 hyaloid–retinal relationship (p<0.001). Nearly half the patients diagnosed as complete posterior vitreous detachment preoperatively were found to have incomplete posterior vitreous detachment intraoperatively. Conclusions: Majority of the cases with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment have some form of strong vitreoretinal adhesion. Hyaloid–retinal relationship varies with types of retinal breaks, retinal degeneration, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Intraoperative hyaloid–retinal relationship is frequently different from that assessed before surgery and the proposed classification may improve surgical decision making and prognostication.