Effect of Oral Prednisolone on Visual Outcomes and Complications after Scleral Buckling

To evaluate the effect of oral prednisolone on visual outcome and complications of scleral buckling (SB) in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, patients with acute RRD who underwent SB were randomly divided into two groups. Oral prednisolone was administered for the treatment group and placebo for the control group. The two groups were compared for visual acuity (VA), retinal detachment (RD), cystoid macular edema (CME), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The trial was performed on 25 patients in the treatment group and 27 patients in the placebo group. Mean preoperative VA (LogMAR) was 1.460.81 overall, including 0.850.62 in the treatment group 0.260.61 in the placebo group (P=0.39). Extent of RD, hypotony and RD location were equal in both groups. Choroidal detachment was seen in 3 eyes in the treatment group and 4 eyes in the placebo group. (P=0.45) Significant PVR was seen in one eye in the treatment group and 3 eyes in the placebo group. (P=0.33) CME was seen in 3 eyes in the treatment group and 5 eyes in the placebo group. (P=0.39) Postoperative oral prednisolone does not seem to affect visual outcomes and complications of scleral buckling in phakic patients.