[National survey on vitreo-retinal surgery and the management of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in Spain. Project retina 2].

PURPOSE: To obtain information throughout Spain on the current management of vitreo-retinal surgical diseases, the number of ophthalmologists involved in retinal surgical diseases care, and the urgent management of retinal detachments.
METHODS: A 30 item questionnaire was sent by mail, on two separate occasions, to the heads of Ophthalmology Departments of 276 centers in Spain.
RESULTS: A total response rate of 48.2% was achieved, however the answers from private centers represented only 9.4% of the total so these were excluded from the analysis. The centers most likely to respond were those in Teaching Hospitals (TH) (52.3%). Of these, 64% of hospitals responded that, in the last year, they performed pars plana vitrectomies (PPV) and 70% performed more than 100 PPVs in the year. In all, 77% of the centers that performed PPVs had also performed them urgently. A total of 75% of hospitals indicated that they had ophthalmologists mainly dedicated to retinal diseases care, with a median of 2 specialists per center, with this representing 23% of their total staff. Retinal surgery was performed by general ophthalmologists in 11.5% of centres. Only 40.3% of hospitals audit their results (37.5% TH).
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the existence of a relatively low response rate, as well as some biases and methodological problems, data on the management of retinal surgical disease has been obtained for the first time at a national level. This data will facilitate later studies and must be taken into consideration in improving the planning and adequate management of these diseases in Spain.