Analysis of the Efficacy of Foldable Capsular Buckle (FCB) Scleral Buckling in Treating Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: Chinese Instruction Course (IC) Successfully Held at the 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO 2026)

APAO 2026
Eyes on the Future: Innovating Ophthalmology
The 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress

From February 5th to 8th, 2026, the 41st Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress (APAO 2026) was grandly held in Hong Kong. Centered around the theme "Eyes on the Future: Innovating Ophthalmology," the congress brought together over 11,000 ophthalmologists and scholars from more than 111 countries and regions worldwide to explore new frontiers in ophthalmic development.

At the congress, research and clinical practices related to the Foldable Capsular Buckle (FCB) were systematically presented through various academic formats. Numerous experts in the fields of fundus diseases and ocular trauma engaged in sharing and exchanges on FCB technology through Free Papers, symposiums, and Instruction Courses, covering aspects from basic principles and surgical strategies to real-world clinical applications. This fully demonstrates the technology's prominence and research depth on the international academic stage.

The Sole Chinese Instruction Course (IC) Standing Out Through Rigorous Selection

It is noteworthy that the Instruction Course (IC) is a vital academic component of the APAO congress. Typically organized by one to five speakers over a 90-minute session, it focuses on systematic instruction and in-depth discussion around specific topics. The selection criteria for APAO Instruction Courses are extremely stringent; only abstract submissions ranking in the top tier are accepted, with most other applications being rejected. At this year's APAO congress, only one Chinese Instruction Course (IC) was accepted. Submitted by Professor Xiao Tan, the course was titled "Analysis of the Efficacy of Foldable Capsular Buckle (FCB) Scleral Buckling in Treating Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment." The curriculum covered FCB's mechanism of action, surgical advantages, clinical comparison with traditional scleral buckling, standardized operating procedures, and complication management. It also included systematic discussions based on clinical experiences and typical cases, providing clinicians with valuable references and actionable practical pathways.

This Instruction Course was moderated by Professor Bo Qin  from Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital. Professor Xiao Tan  from Shenzhen Aier Eye Hospital served as the Course Chair. Speakers included Professor Cheng Li and Professor  Zhongping Chen from Changsha Aier Eye Hospital, Professor  Zizhong Hu from Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, and Professor Yan Chen from Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center. Discussants were Professor Jinhong Cai  from Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Professor  Songfu Feng from Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Professor  Huping Song from Xi'an People's Hospital, and Professor  Hong Wu from the Second Hospital of Jilin University.

Instruction Course: FCB for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

At the beginning of the session, Professor  Bo Qin, as the moderator, delivered opening remarks. He noted that this course would feature several top domestic experts systematically sharing their experiences in applying FCB for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) from multiple dimensions, including principles, cases, and efficacy. The goal was to jointly promote the development of this technology towards even more minimally invasive and efficient directions.

Professor  Xiao Tan

Professor Tan focused on the principles and advantages of using the Foldable Capsular Buckle (FCB) for treating RRD. She traced the development of external approach surgeries and compared current mainstream procedures. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a core therapy for RRD, suitable for complex cases, but it has limitations such as postoperative positioning requirements and potential complications. Scleral buckling (SB), as an external procedure, offers minimally invasive advantages, yet its application rate has declined due to its operation being heavily experience-dependent and having a steep learning curve. External procedures have evolved through multiple stages; early temporary balloons made of latex had numerous defects. FCB, as an upgraded technique, uses silicone material with controllable fluid injection and pressure. It allows for precise localization of retinal breaks through formula-based calculations. The surgical steps are standardized, making it easier to teach. It offers a large buckling area with high fault tolerance and incorporates physical principles like Bernoulli's principle and interfacial tension to optimize treatment. This expands the indications for external procedures and improves RRD treatment outcomes.

Professor Zhongping Chen 

Professor Chen shared insights on "Standardized Operation and Complication Management of FCB Scleral Buckling." He began by discussing the current status of RRD treatment, pointing out the pain points leading to the decreased use of scleral buckling. He highlighted that FCB, improved upon the Lincoff-Kreissig balloon, offers advantages such as being minimally invasive, simple to operate, and having fewer complications. He detailed the suitable patient populations for FCB surgery, preoperative preparations, surgical procedures, and key precautions. He identified large breaks, longitudinal breaks, and posterior breaks that meet PPV criteria as the best indications for balloon surgery. He also noted its advantages for children, adolescents, pregnant women, and elderly patients with poor systemic conditions. He addressed the management and prevention of two main complications: temporary diplopia and balloon migration, validating the surgical outcomes with six clinical cases. Professor Chen concluded that FCB is a safe and effective treatment for RRD, allowing some patients meeting vitrectomy indications to be cured through minimally invasive external surgery. He also pointed out that it cannot replace all external procedures and suggested exploring personalized FCBs in the future to enhance efficacy.

Professor Cheng Li 

Professor Li shared a clinical comparative study on FCB versus scleral buckling (SB) for treating RRD. The study, conducted across affiliated hospitals, involved a 12-week postoperative follow-up period, observing indicators such as retinal reattachment rate, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, subretinal fluid absorption, and complications. Clinical data showed no significant difference in retinal reattachment rates between FCB and SB; both effectively improved patient vision and promoted subretinal fluid absorption. Visual acuity improvement was statistically significant in eyes with macular involvement post-surgery. FCB demonstrated significant advantages at the surgical level: it uses subconjunctival anesthesia, takes approximately 20 minutes to perform, is a minimally invasive procedure, allows for temporary placement and removal of the implant, has no significant impact on refraction, and results in higher patient comfort postoperatively. The study concluded that FCB is safe and effective for both simple and complex RRD, ultimately confirming it as a safe, minimally invasive external procedure that can serve as an excellent alternative to traditional SB surgery.

Professor  Zizhong Hu

Professor Hu discussed the application of FCB in external procedures for RRD, contrasting it with traditional methods and elaborating on its value in treating breaks ranging from small to large. The core of RRD treatment is sealing the break and reattaching the retina. Traditional treatments include PPV (an internal procedure with drawbacks like more complications and higher costs) and scleral buckling (an external procedure with issues like pain and refractive changes). Moreover, simple external padding for large breaks can lead to "fish-mouthing" failure due to incomplete apposition. Professor Hu presented 18 cases of FCB surgery for different types of breaks, all achieving good results. This technique avoids muscle traction, shortens surgery time and the learning curve, and offers high fault tolerance. He also detailed the keys to FCB surgery: precise preoperative localization and parameter calculation; intraoperative control of eye position and drainage; and strict postoperative immobilization and timely laser photocoagulation. FCB combined with intraoperative real-time laser provides a superior external surgical option for RRD caused by large breaks.

Professor Yan Chen 

Professor Chen focused on the clinical application of FCB in ultra-minimally invasive external treatment for RRD. She introduced the technology's principles, indications, 21 successful cases, 1 failure case, and research findings. FCB enables a "5-No" minimally invasive operation: no drainage, no cryopexy, no intraoperative localization, no extraocular muscle traction, and no retrobulbar anesthesia. The balloon can be removed after retinal reattachment. It is suitable for populations such as children and high myopes, as well as conditions like nasal breaks and horseshoe tears, bringing patients with large-break retinal detachments back into the realm of minimally invasive external surgery. Professor Chen presented 21 clinical cases from her team between 2023-2025 involving patients of different ages, all achieving good reattachment results. She also discussed related published research comparing the efficacy of FCB and traditional scleral buckling. She concluded that FCB is an effective treatment option, but requires strict adherence to indications, meticulous operation, and good postoperative management; its clinical application still needs ongoing exploration and summarization.

The course concluded with an expert discussion session. The four discussants provided commentary and posed on-site questions based on the course content, engaging in in-depth exchanges on the clinical indications, key surgical details, and efficacy advantages of ultra-minimally invasive FCB treatment for RRD. This multi-faceted academic exchange provided a clearer reference path for the technology's clinical application and garnered significant attention from the attending experts.

The APAO 2026 congress served as an academic feast and international exchange platform for the ophthalmology community. As a globally innovative technology, the Foldable Capsular Buckle (FCB) sparked considerable discussion at APAO 2026, fully reflecting the technology's visibility and research depth on the international stage. Looking ahead, Vesber aims to further expand into the international market, allowing patients with eye diseases worldwide to benefit from Vesber's innovative ophthalmic technologies.