Prophylactic treatment of lattice degeneration in fellow eyes after repair of uncomplicated primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Purpose:To evaluate prophylactic treatment (PTx) of lattice degeneration (LD) on retinal tear (RT) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) risk in fellow eyes of patients after primary RRD repair in the first eye. Methods:This was a consecutive case series with cohort control involving patients with RRD repair from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2017. Patients received PTx (PTx cohort) or no PTx (No-PTx cohort) in fellow eye with 5-year follow-up. Primary outcome measure was proportion with new fellow eye RT/RRD. Secondary outcomes included logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and status of myopia, posterior vitreous detachment, and pseudophakia. Results:Four hundred ninety-eight patients were divided into 146 and 352 in PTx and No-PTx cohorts, respectively. PTx cohort developed significantly (P < 0.05) fewer RT/RRD (17%) than No-PTx cohort (41%). PTx significantly (P < 0.05) lowered RT/RRD irrespective of posterior vitreous detachment and myopia status. PTx patients undergoing phacoemulsification demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) less RT/RRD (22%) than No-PTx cohort (31%). There was no significant (P = 0.96) final BCVA difference between PTx (median = 0 logMAR) and No-PTx (median = 0 logMAR) cohorts. Conclusion:PTx of asymptomatic fellow eye LD reduced RT/RRD risk.