KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
• The treatment of retinal detachment has undergone tremendous advancement over the last century
• Several surgical pioneers developed and refined pneumatic retinopexy, which was the most popular method of treating straightforward retinal detachments at the turn of the millennium
• Advancement of vitrectomy technology over the last two decades has allowed a high percentage of primary anatomical retinal reattachment
• There is mounting evidence that pneumatic retinopexy provides superior visual acuity and function when compared to pars plana vitrectomy in the treatment of retinal detachment
• Recent utilization of advancing imaging technology has allowed the ability to better measure the anatomical integrity of treatments for retinal detachment
• The metrics to measure the success of retinal reattachment should be primarily focused on minimizing metamorphopsia and aniseikonia to maximize visual acuity and function
• The importance of training surgeons to be proficient in all methods of treating retinal detachment while focusing on optimizing visual function will allow new pioneers to further advance treatment modalities for retinal detachment