Epidemiological profile and outcomes of scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and surgical profile of patients diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who underwent scleral buckling (SB) at a tertiary ophthalmology referral center in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and to identify the main factors associated with postoperative visual outcomes. Materials and Methods: This observational, retrospective study included 122 patients treated between 2020 and 2024. Epidemiological, clinical, and surgical data were collected, including age, sex, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, symptom duration, surgical waiting time, macular status, pre- and postoperative visual acuity (VA), complications, and reoperations. Descriptive statistics and association tests were performed. Results: The cohort comprised predominantly male patients (60.7%), with a mean age of 48 years. Decreased VA was the most frequent presenting symptom (99.2%), and the mean time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 54.4 days. Most cases were macula-off RRD (68%). Progressive improvement in VA was observed at 30 and 90 days postoperatively, particularly among macula-on patients, although 1-year follow-up was limited by substantial loss to follow-up. Postoperative complications occurred in 28.7% of cases, most commonly recurrent detachment (23%). Conclusions: Macular status at diagnosis was the main prognostic factor for visual outcomes, whereas symptom duration and surgical waiting time showed no significant associations. Diagnostic delays contributed to the high proportion of macula-off cases, underscoring the importance of early referral. Despite the occurrence of complications and reoperations, SB proved effective in a substantial proportion of patients and remains a valuable surgical option, particularly for young and phakic individuals. This study enhances the understanding of retinal detachment management within the Brazilian Unified Health System.