Objective: This study aims to determine whether the supine position is effective for the management of inferior peripheral breaks after pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade.
Methods: A total of 29 patients (29 eyes) with acute rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and causative peripheral inferior breaks, located between the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions, underwent pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade. These patients maintained a face-up supine position for at least six hours each day for 14 days postoperatively. The alternate lateral position was used for the remaining hours, depending on the distribution of the retinal breaks.
Results: The final retinal reattachment rate was 100%, and the visual acuity improvement rate was 100% postoperatively, with no recurrence during the one-year follow up. No patients suffered from any sight-threatening complications. Of the 16 patients with preoperatively clear lenses, 3 were documented to have a cataract during their three-month postoperative follow up. Four patients were documented to have increased intraocular pressure, which was controllable during the early postoperative days.
Conclusion: Postoperative pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamponade in the supine position is effective for managing primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with causative breaks between the four o’clock and eight o’clock positions.
Keywords: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, inferior breaks, supine position, pars plana vitrectomy, gas tamponade