Abstract:  Objective To find out the anatomical and visual outcome of scleral buckle surgery in young patients with long-standing retinal detachment. Design Retrospective case series. Participants The clinical data of 60 young patients (64 eyes) with long-standing retinal detachment treated by scleral buckle surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2007 to March 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Methods Postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure and retinal status were recorded to see the anatomical success rate at 1 , 2 weeks, 1, 3 months after scleral buckle surgery. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months follow-up was noted. The meaningful improvement was definited if the postoperative visual acuity was improved more than or equnl to 2 lines. The definition of successful operation is that the retina had reattached more than 3 months after the first operation. Main Outcome Measures Retinal reattachment rates, postoperative BCVA. Results 61 eyes (95.3%) had retinal attachment by 3 months duration, 3 eyes (4.7%) had undergone repeat surgery within 3-month duration (pars plana vitrectomy). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months was improved in 43 eyes (67.2%). Conclusion Conventional scleral buckling can be used in majority of young patients with long-standing retinal detachment. Proper treatment should be given in time.

Key words: long-standing retinal detachment/surgery, scleral buckle surgery, youths