In-Office Suprachoroidal Viscopexy for Acute Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Abstract

In-office suprachoroidal viscopexy (SCVEXY) is a relatively new procedure for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), but minimal information is available regarding outcomes and safety. To report outcomes with in-office SCVEXY for primary acute RRD. This retrospective case series was conducted at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from June 2023 to February 2024 among consecutive patients with primary acute RRDs who presented with retinal tears that were reachable with the current in-office SCVEXY technique in the temporal or nasal retina. Suprachoroidal injection of 0.6 mL of sodium hyaluronate, 2.3%, at the break location using a 30-gauge needle with a custom-made guard leaving 1 mm of the needle exposed. Laser retinopexy was applied around the break once reattachment was achieved. The primary outcome was primary anatomic reattachment rate with SCVEXY and recovery of function and anatomic integrity. Among 6 patients, 2 patients (33.3%) were female, and mean (SD) patient age was 52.5 (19.7) years. The final follow-up duration for each patient was 510, 420, 360, 360, 330, and 320 days, respectively. Baseline VAs were hand motions, counting fingers, 20/100, 20/100, 20/25, and hand motions for patients 1 through 6, respectively. A dome-shaped suprachoroidal buckle was present in all cases after the procedure. Five of 6 patients (83.3%) achieved anatomic reattachment with no retinal displacement or outer retinal folds, and these patients could resume normal activity immediately after the procedure with no restrictions. The mean (SD) logMAR VA at 3 months was +0.46 (0.34) (Snellen 20/57). The viscoelastic persisted in the suprachoroidal space as confirmed by multimodal imaging for 10, 14, 21, 13, 24, and 14 days, respectively, and the retina remained attached during the entire postoperative follow-up period. One patient's SCVEXY failed due to inadequate viscoelastic at the posterior edge of the retinal break, and this patient underwent a successful pneumatic retinopexy. One patient developed a localized choroidal effusion unrelated to the SCVEXY site following laser retinopexy that resolved in 1 week associated with topical prednisolone, 1%, 4 times daily and cyclopentolate, 1%, twice daily. In this case series, the outcomes of these 6 cases suggest that SCVEXY may offer durable retinal reattachment in RRD. However, randomized clinical trial data, larger sample sizes, and longer-term follow-up are necessary to assess the risk-benefit profile of SCVEXY compared with the standard of care.