A new 3-year clinical trial is set to launch at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto that will compare the outcomes of pneumatic retinopexy with the outcomes of vitrectomy (with or without scleral buckle) for the management of retinal detachment, in terms of anatomical success, functional success and impact on patient quality of life.

The primary outcome measure will be patients’ visual acuity 12 months post intervention with measurements also being taken at intervals of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post intervention.

The study’s organizers note that both pneumatic retinopexy and vitrectomy are widely used and accepted by vitreoretinal surgeons for treatment of retinal detachments, but randomised, prospective comparison of the two techniques has not been reported in the scientific literature to date. They claim that the management decisions surrounding primary retinal detachment are grounded on a weak evidence base. It is hoped that the findings of this study will allow vitreoretinal surgeons and their patients to select the most appropriate intervention for each individual, in an informed and holistic manner.

Click here ^[1] for further details about the trial.