Diabetic retinal detachment surgery at a central academic hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa

Background: Tractional retinal detachment surgery outcomes are unpredictable and need to be reviewed regularly in clinical practice settings. Aim: To describe the visual acuity and anatomical outcomes of retinal detachment surgery for diabetic tractional retinal detachment at a central academic hospital. Setting: Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods: This study involves a retrospective case series of patients who had surgery for diabetic tractional retinal detachment at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital between 01 January 2010 and 31 December 2014. Results: A total of 65 patients with diabetic retinal detachment were included in this study. The study consisted of 63% (n = 41) male patients and 37% (n = 24) female patients. The mean age (± standard deviation) was 54 ± 12.2 years. Forty-four patients (68%) had tractional retinal detachment, and 21 (32%) patients had a combined tractional and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Twenty-one (32%) patients had detachments associated with vitreous haemorrhage (VH), and 39 (60%) patients had macular-involving detachments. Forty-six (71%) patients obtained vision improvement or stabilisation and reattachment of the retina, 24 (36.9%) patients had visual acuity improvement, 22 (33.9%) patients retained the same visual acuity and 19 (29.2%) patients lost vision. Fifty-five (85%) patients had successful anatomical reattachment of the retina, and 10 (15%) patients had re-detachments after surgery. Conclusion: The majority of patients whose files were reviewed benefited from surgical intervention for diabetic tractional retinal detachment in terms of stabilisation or improvement of vision. Contribution: Tractional detachment surgery outcomes in our setting are comparable to those from elsewhere around the world.