We aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of rasagiline in pseudophakic patients who had surgery for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). This was a 6-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Patients presenting with acute macula-off RRD were recruited and randomized 1:1 to receive rasagiline 1 mg/day or placebo for 7 days. Bestcorrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography were acquired 1 day before as well as 2 days, 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after surgery. We screened 26 patients with RRD whereof 23 were eventually included and randomized. The primary outcome was final BCVA. Secondary outcomes included central retinal thickness (CRT) and adverse events (AE). We evaluated photoreceptor cells (prc) recovery through morphological measurements. The baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. BCVA significantly improved in both groups (letters gained: rasagiline 61.5 ± 18.1 vs placebo 55.3 ± 29.2, p = 0.56), but no significant inter-group difference was found at any visit. CRT was stable 3 weeks after surgery onwards, with no inter-group difference. No treatment-emergent AE occurred. Significant prc restoration was observed from 3 weeks to 6 months after surgery, without inter-group difference at either visit. Ellipsoid zone integrity (β = 0.517, p = 0.008) and foveal bulge (β = 0.387, p = 0.038) were significant predictors of good final BCVA. In conclusion, perioperative oral treatment with rasagiline 1 mg/day for 7 days did not show significant benefits on visual or anatomical outcomes in macula-off RRD patients. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) refers to separation of the neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) due to accumulation of subretinal fluid through one or more retinal breaks 1. Currently, surgical repair is the only available treatment. Foveal detachment (macula-off) occurs in 54.5% of all RRD patients and is a major factor influencing visual recovery after successful surgical repair 2. As a result of deprived metabolic supply from the RPE and choroidal vasculature, photoreceptor (prc) death is the ultimate cause of vision loss after RRD 3. This is particularly relevant in the macula, where the density of prc is the highest and maximal visual acuity is achieved. Arguably, visual acuity recovery is significantly limited due to prc loss. Apoptosis was believed to be the major cause involved in prc death. However, recent evidence demonstrated that non-apoptotic forms of cell death (autophagy and necrosis), mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and inflammation raised by the interaction between dying cells and phagocytes all play a role in prc death after RRD 4. Accordingly, strategies targeting these pathways may be effective in prc rescue after RRD. Rasagiline [N-propargyl-1-(R)-aminoindan] is a second-generation propargylamine pharmacophore that selectively and irreversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). It has been an approved drug for the treatment of Parkinson's d...