Objectives: The aim of our study is to emphasize that, using minimal detachment surgery in selected cases among patients diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, it is possible to repair the detachment with scleral buckling + cryopexy without the drainage of subretinal fluid and to minimize invasive surgery.

Methods: Minimally possible detachment surgery and conventional detachment surgery were applied to 50 eyes of 50 patients between 12 and 69 years old (28 males, 22 females) who were admitted to Şişli Etfal Hospital Eye Clinic Retina Unit and diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and the data were divided into two groups and analyzed retrospectively. Preoperatively, anamnesis was obtained, visual acuity was measured, biomicroscopic examination was performed, intraocular pressure was measured, detailed fundus examination was performed and the topographical drawing of fundus oculi was made. All operations were performed under local anesthesia, and in the operating room.

Results: In the 1st group, minimally invasive detachment surgery was performed on 30 eyes of 30 patients. This group of patients was followed up for a minimum of 5 months and a maximum of 2 years. In these cases, the anatomical success rate was 93.3%, and the visual success rate was 80%. In the 2nd Group, conventional detachment surgery was performed on 20 eyes of 20 patients. This group of patients was followed up for a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 1.5 years. In these cases, the anatomical success rate is 60%, and the visual success rate is 60%.

Conclusion: If patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment apply to an ophthalmologist in a timely fashion, very good anatomical and visual success rates can be achieved with the minimally invasive surgical technique. In conditions where vitreoretinal surgery is not possible in the appropriate patient group, the first option should be minimally invasive surgical technique.

MUBERRA AKDOGAN