Aims: To analyze the outcome of combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and visually significant cataract.
Settings and design: Retrospective, interventional case series.
Materials and methods: Retrospective review of patients with primary rhegmatogenous detachment with or without proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) changes and visually significant cataract who underwent combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens (IOL) implantation between 1991 and 2006. Of the ten eyes, all underwent phacoemulsification and five eyes had posterior chamber Intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation. All eyes underwent scleral buckling with solid silicone explant combined with #240 encircling band. Subretinal fluid (SRF) drainage was done in five eyes
Results: Four eyes improved to better than 6/12 at a mean follow-up of 9 months. Anatomical success was achieved in all eyes (100%).
Conclusion: Combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification is a safe and effective procedure that spares the patient the burden of repeated surgeries. It may be considered as a treatment option in selected cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with significant cataract with/without early PVR.
Keywords: Cataract; phacoemulsification; retinal detachment; scleral buckling.