Impact of postoperative positioning on the outcome of pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: comparison between supine and prone positioning

Purpose To compare the postoperative anatomic success rates and the frequency of complications between prone or supine postoperative positioning after transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy ( TSV ) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment ( RRD ). Methods All patients underwent primary 27‐gauge TSV for the treatment of primary RRD . Patients were divided into two groups as follows: group A was patients instructed to keep strict postoperative prone positioning for a minimum of 8 days. Group B was patients instructed to keep the prone positioning on the day of the surgery followed by supine positioning for minimum of 7 days from the day after surgery. Result Sixty‐two eyes were enrolled (group A: 32, group B: 30). There was no significant difference in baseline data between two groups. The initial and final anatomical success rates were 93.8% and 100% in group A and 93.3% and 100% in group B, respectively (p = 1, p = 1, respectively). Posterior synechia of the iris occurred in one eye in group A and in two eyes in group B (p = 0.61). Macular pucker and retinal fold did not occur in either group. Preoperative intraocular pressure ( IOP ; mmHg) was 14.5 ± 2.9 in group A and 14.5 ± 2.6 in group B (p = 0.92). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was not statistically different between the groups during the follow‐up period (p = 0.36, p = 0.07, respectively). Conclusion Supine positioning may be an option as a postoperative positioning after TSV and gas tamponade for the treatment of RRD .