Strabismus surgery outcomes without removal of scleral buckle in patients with previous retinal detachment repair

Abstract

To report the motor and sensory outcomes of strabismus surgery following scleral buckle procedure for retinal detachment (RD) without removal of the scleral buckle. The medical records of patients who underwent strabismus surgery without removal of scleral buckle following RD surgical repair at a tertiary referral center between 2002 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data were recorded, and rates of surgical motor success (defined as horizontal deviation of ≤10Δ and vertical deviation of ≤4Δ) and sensory success (resolution of diplopia) were calculated. A total of 23 patients (mean age, 58.4±24.4years; 12 males) were included. The average time between the RD surgery and onset of strabismus was 11.05±10.95months (range, 1-42months). The strabismus was horizontal in 6 patients, vertical in 2, and combined in 15. Eighteen patients (78%) presented with diplopia. Adjustable sutures were used in 18 patients. Final motor surgical success was achieved in 17 of 23 patients (74%), and diplopia improved in 17 of 18 patients (94%) who had preoperative fusional capability. There was no statistically significant difference in age, number of RD surgeries, macular status, time to strabismus surgery, visual acuity in the worse eye, or magnitude of preoperative horizontal and vertical deviation with regard to motor success rate and with persistence of diplopia postoperatively. In our study cohort, strabismus surgery without removal of the scleral buckle resulted inmotor success and alleviated diplopia in the majority of patients with prior RD repair.