ObjectiveTo observe the changes of multifocal electroretinogram(mfERG)and central visual field before and after surgery in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) involving the macular area. MethodsThis is a retrospective study. Sixteen patients (16 eyes) with RRD involving the macular area (RRD group) and age-matched normal 20 cases (20 eyes, normal control group) were enrolled in the study. All patients in RRD group underwent scleral buckling surgery. Before surgery and 1, 3, 6 months after surgery, RRD eyes and normal eyes were checked by using mfERG and central visual field examination, and macular reaction wave amplitude density, incubation period and 4° visual field mean sensitivity (MS) were observed. The correlation between amplitude density, incubation period and MS in RRD group and the consistency between mfERG and central visual field examination in normal control group and RRD group were analyzed. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, in RRD group before surgery the macular reaction wave N1 and P1 amplitude density reduced, the incubation period prolonged, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, in RRD group macular reaction wave amplitude density improved, the incubation period reduced than before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, in RRD group macular reaction wave amplitude density reduced, the incubation period prolonged compared with the normal control group, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, 4° visual field MS significantly reduced in RRD group before surgery reduced, the differences were statistically significant (t=49.752, P < 0.05). Postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, 4° visual field MS significantly increased compared with the preoperative value, the differences were statistically significant (t=-9.580, -16.533, -19.580; P < 0.05); but were lower than that of the normal control group, the differences were statistically significant (t=-6.286, -7.493, -6.366; P < 0.05). Postoperative 1, 3, 6 months, macular reaction wave amplitude density and MS in RRD group showed positive correlation (P < 0.05), and there was no correlation between incubation period and MS (P > 0.05). mfERG and vision consistency in normal control group and RRD group showed good agreement(K=0.886, P < 0.05). ConclusionsCompared with normal control eyes, in RRD eyes involving the macula area before and after surgery, macular reaction wave amplitude density reduced, the incubation period prolonged and MS values reduced; compared with the preoperative mfERG and central visual field, macular reaction wave amplitude density improved, the incubation period reduced and MS values increased.