COMBAT Participant Information

The most common surgery to treat a RRD is Vitrectomy however, Vitrectomy can have complications. The most common is cataracts which get worse with time. When they affect vision they need to be removed with surgery. In cataract surgery the foggy lens is changed (replaced) for an artificial clear lens.

Surgeons do not routinely offer cataract surgery at the same time as vitrectomy in people with RRD. At the moment, we don‘t know if it‘s best to do both surgeries at the same time or separately. Thus, we planned COMBAT. Patients who join COMBAT will receive either 1) vitrectomy first and, if needed, cataract surgery later, or 2) cataract surgery and vitrectomy at the same time. We will compare how people do by looking at their sight, the number of retinas that reattach, patient satisfaction, complications and costs.