Routine use of filtered air as endotamponade in the management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of filtered air as endotamponade in the management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and complete drainage of subretinal fluid.

Methods: For this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical charts of 273 patients (275 eyes) who consecutively underwent PPV, subretinal fluid drainage and filtered air tamponade to treat primary RRD between 2018 and 2022. As primary outcome we evaluated the anatomical success considered as retinal reattachment after single surgery. As secondary outcomes: final mean best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), complications, and mean intraocular pressure (IOP) trends.

Results: The anatomical success was reached by 262 (95.6%) of cases. Mean BCDVA improved from 0.73 LogMAR at baseline, to 0.21 LogMAR at the end of follow-up. As complications we recorded: 5 cases of clinically relevant macular pucker, 1 full thickness macular hole, and 1 PFO bubble under the retina. The mean IOP remained on normal values during the overall follow-up period.