To report the outcomes of relaxing retinectomy for retinal detachment in patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Sixty-four cases of relaxing retinectomy for PVR with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were retrospectively reviewed. The outcomes included achievement of complete retinal reattachment, PVR recurrence, the mean number of additional operations, visual acuity and incidence of postoperative complications. We analyzed the influence of intraoperative factors including lens status, retinectomy extent, additional scleral buckling, and tamponade agent on primary retinal reattachment.

Complete retinal reattachment was achieved in 47 eyes (74.3%) without an additional surgery. PVR recurred in 19 eyes (29.7%) and an additional operation was performed in 17 eyes (26.6%). Fifty-seven (89.1%) eyes showed complete retinal reattachment and 40 eyes (62.5%) had visual acuity of 0.02 or more at the final follow-up visit. Hypotony was the major complication and developed in 10 eyes (15.6%). Eyes undergoing smaller (< 180°) retinectomy or silicone oil tamponade had higher primary anatomical success rates than larger (≥ 180°) retinectomy or gas tamponade ( p = 0.043 and 0.013, respectively).

Relaxing retinectomy is a useful technique for retinal detachment with PVR, but risk of recurrent proliferation or hypotony should be considered.