To evaluate the functional and anatomical outcomes of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair in young adults.

A retrospective, comparative case series study. Patients between the ages of 18 and 40 years who underwent surgical repair of primary RRD between the years 2006 and 2013 were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical technique used: scleral buckle (SB), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or combined surgery (SB‐PPV).

Ninety eyes (90 patients) were included. The mean age (SD) was 31.5 ± 5.1 years (range 22–40). Sixty‐seven patients underwent SB, 10 had PPV and 13 had SB‐PPV. Anatomical success rates were similar between the three groups (87%, 90% and 85% for SB, PPV and SB‐PPV groups, respectively; p‐value = 0.9). Mean (SD) preoperative LogMAR visual acuity (VA) was 0.46 ± 0.6, 1.73 ± 1.1, 1.1 ± 1.1 for SB, PPV and SB‐PPV groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The VA improved at last follow‐up to 0.23 ± 0.4, 0.7 ± 1.5 and 1.09 ± 1.08 in SB, PPV and SB‐PPV groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Macula‐off was diagnosed in 19.4% of SB, 80% of PPV and 53.9% of SB‐PPV groups (p < 0.0001). In the SB group one phakic patient (1.5%) needed cataract extraction, while following PPV, all phakic eyes (100%) underwent cataract extraction eventually (p‐value < 0.0001).

The study emphasizes the efficacy of SB as a primary procedure for the repair of retinal detachment in young adults in terms of anatomical and functional success. Furthermore, preservation of the lens as a result of using SB rather than PPV when possible is of great importance in this age group.