Pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, and pneumatic retinopexy for the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a meta-analysis

We reviewed the literature on the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckle (SB), and pneumatic retinopexy (PR) for the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs). A systematic search was performed on three databases from inception to September 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing RRD management options were included. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model. Eighteen RCTs and 2,751 eyes were included. For PPV versus SB, early postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) favored SB (weighted mean <1 month postoperatively: ~counting fingers for PPV versus ~20/260 for SB, P = 0.02), but differences were nonsignificant at other time points. There was no difference for primary reattachment (P = 0.08). PPV had a lower incidence of choroidal detachment (P = 0.004), hypotony (P = 0.01), and strabismus/diplopia (P = 0.04) but a higher incidence of iatrogenic breaks (P = 0.003) and cataract development/progression (P = 0.05) relative to SB. Combination management was nonsignificantly different relative to PPV alone for CDVA, complications and reattachment rate. In closing, PPV is associated with a slower visual recovery, but similar final visual acuity and primary reattachment rate relative to SB. Combination procedures did not improve primary reattachment rates or vision relative to standalone PPV. Heterogeneity was seen across the included trials, and further randomized trials are needed to reduce the uncertainty of these estimates.