To the report 20-year follow-up data for patients receiving a scleral buckle for treatment of a primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).Methods: Nonconsecutive, retrospective case series. We identified 227 eyes with primary RRD who were treated with a scleral buckle, and for whom at least 20 years of follow-up data were available. Results were classified into 3 subgroups: retina reattached with 1 procedure; retina reattached with 1 or more additional vitreoretinal procedures; or retina detached at 20 years.Results: One hundred eighty-six eyes (82%) achieved retinal reattachment with 1 scleral buckling procedure and with a median final visual acuity of 20/40 at 20 years of follow-up. An additional 30 eyes (13%) achieved reti-nal reattachment after 1 or more additional vitreoretinal procedures, with a median final visual acuity of 20/50. Eleven eyes (5%) were detached at the 20-year follow-up examination, with a final visual acuity in all eyes of no light perception.Conclusions: Scleral buckling for primary RRD achieves anatomical efficacy and preservation of central vision in the majority of eyes at 20 years' follow-up. The 1-operation success rate was 82%, overall success rate was 95%, and median final visual acuity was 20/40. This study may serve as a basis for comparison with the long-term results of other surgical techniques used in the treatment of primary RRDs.

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Intravitreal triamcinolone inhibits choroidal neovascularization. To investigate if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is affected, we examined VEGF expression after intravitreal triamcinolone administration in rat retina. Using in situ hybridization, we have found dense clustered VEGF mRNA signals in the retinal pigment epithelium, moderate patchy signals in the inner nuclear layer, and positive labeling in a sub-population of ganglion cells. Densitometry and northern blot analysis revealed no significant alteration of VEGF mRNA expression pattern and level 3-21 days after triamcinolone injection. Our data indicate that intravitreal triamcinolone does not affect basal VEGF mRNA expression in normal adult rat retina.