To examine associations between primary repair, patient characteristics, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) reoperation.

Retrospective cohort study.

We used administrative claims to identify enrollees with incident RRD treatment by laser barricade, pneumatic retinopexy (PR), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), or scleral buckle (SB) between 2003 and 2016. Analysis excluded patients with less than 3 years of continuous enrollment, previous RRD diagnosis, or repair. We determined reoperation frequency (PPV, PR, or SB) within 90 days postrepair and used multivariable logistic regression to identify associations between reoperation and patient and primary repair characteristics.

Of 16,190 patients with documented primary RRD repair, 2,918 (18.0%) required reoperation within 90 days. Reoperation was significantly associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, P < .001), pseudophakia (OR 1.25, P < .001), vitreous hemorrhage (OR 1.22, P = .001), and worse systemic health (OR 1.19-1.25, P < .05, for Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3). Pseudophakia had higher reoperation odds after all primary procedures except PPV. In addition, 28.7% of primary PR cases required reoperation, vs 19.1% of SB and 17.9% of PPV repairs. Adjusting for other patient characteristics, PR had highest odds of reoperation (OR 1.90, P < .001, vs primary PPV). Primary laser barricade had lowest odds of reoperation (OR 0.49, P < .001). PPV was the most frequent reoperation procedure.

Nearly 1 in 5 patients require reoperation within 90 days after primary RRD repair. Cases requiring only primary laser barricade had lowest reoperation odds, likely representing less severe RRDs. Primary PR had highest reoperation odds; PPV and SB were similar to each other. These findings are important for patient education and surgical decision-making.