Retinal repair

About

The retina is the layer at the back of the eye that gives sight. Normally it is attached to the wall of the eye, but it can separate in a condition called rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). RRD causes sight loss and requires surgery. 

The most common surgery to treat RRD is vitrectomy. Depending on how bad the RRD is, a single operation may put the retina back in place in around 8 in 10 eyes. 

Vitrectomy can have complications. The most common is cataract. A cataract is when the lens of the eye, normally clear, becomes foggy. Cataracts often get worse with time. When they affect vision, they need to be removed with surgery. In cataract surgery, the foggy lens is replaced with an artificial clear lens. Patients with RRD may already have an early cataract, especially if they are older than 50 years. Surgeons do not routinely offer cataract surgery at the same time as vitrectomy in people with RRD. So, most often, when the cataract gets worse after the vitrectomy, cataract surgery is offered at that time.

COMBAT trial will test whether it is better to continue to do the vitrectomy alone when repairing the RRD or whether it may be better to do both the cataract surgery and the vitrectomy surgery at the same time, in one single operation.

How do I take part?

You will be approached by our research team during your pre-operative assessment if you are eligible.