To assess efficacy and safety outcomes of subretinal fluid drainage methods during pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

A systematic search strategy was conducted for studies published between January 2000 and October 2022. Included studies reported on either the safety or efficacy of two or more drainage methods during pars plana vitrectomy for patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Two randomized and five observational studies consisting of 1,524 eyes were included. Best-corrected visual acuity at the last study observation and primary reattachment rates were similar across groups. A significantly lower risk of epiretinal membrane formation was associated with draining subretinal fluid through preexisting retinal breaks (risk ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = [0.60, 0.83], P = <0.01, I2 = 0%) or with perfluorocarbon liquid (risk ratios = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = [0.59, 0.83], P = <0.01, I2 = 0%) compared with posterior retinotomy. The risk of an abnormal foveal contour was significantly greater in perfluorocarbon liquid–treated eyes relative to posterior retinotomy (risk ratios = 1.56, 95% confidence interval = [1.13, 2.17], P = <0.01, I2 = 0%).

No significant differences were observed in the final best-corrected visual acuity at the last study observation and primary reattachment rates across different drainage methods. There remains limited information on the topic, so future research is warranted.