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Background This open-label extension study to the original VIPER trial investigated the long-term single surgery success after repair of an uncomplicated pseudophakic retinal detachment (PRD) by vitrectomy and gas with or without an encircling band (EB).Methods Examination data from patients enrolled in the VIPER trial obtained after the 26-weeks’ follow-up period (26-weeks’ FU) of the original trial were analysed, and failures, given as indications for another reattachment procedure, were documented.Results From the original study population of 257 patients enrolled to the three treatment groups (20G vitrectomy+EB (E1), 20G vitrectomy alone (C) and 23/25G vitrectomy (E2)), follow-up data from 105 (41%) patients could be collected. The additional postoperative follow-up was 1.4 months up to 10.8 years. Of the 105 patients enrolled in this long-term analysis, 102 had an observation time greater than 2 years. Failures due to the reattachment procedure within the 26-week FU of the original trial were as follows: 17 in E1, 19 in C and 5 in E2. Additional late failures were found in seven cases: two in E1, three in C and two in E2, respectively.Conclusions The long-term observation of additional failures after primary vitrectomy with or without EB did not change the main result of the VIPER study. There is still no evidence that an additional EB would improve the primary surgical success of vitrectomy for uncomplicated PRD. In the cohort of 105 patients with a longer follow-up than 26 weeks, only seven additional failures were observed.Trial registration number DKRS00023359.