The management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not involving the fovea

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702083

Eye (2006) 20, 1049–1053. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702083; published online 21 October 2005

The management of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not involving the fovea

None of the authors has any competing financial interest in the subject matter of the presentation

The paper was accepted as a poster for the ARVO meeting in May 2005

S F Ho^1,2, A Fitt¹, K Frimpong-Ansah¹ and M T Benson^1,2

¹Birmingham and Midland Eye centre, Birmingham, UK
²Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Correspondence: SF Ho, Ophthalmology Department, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK. Tel: +44 028 90633612; Fax: +44 028 9024 0503; E-mail: s_ho2@yahoo.com

Received 22 April 2005; Accepted 29 July 2005; Published online 21 October 2005.

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Abstract

Aim

To establish the likelihood of, and risk factors associated with, progression of 'macula-on' retinal detachment.

Methods

A multi-centre prospective observational study of patients with acute retinal detachment, not involving the fovea, was conducted over a 6-month period. Data collected included duration of symptoms, visual acuity, presence of posterior vitreous detachment, retinal drawings and subretinal fluid (SRF) distance from the fovea at a minimum of two time points.

Results

A total of 82 data sets from 15 institutions were analysed. Of 82 cases 11 (13%) demonstrated progression of fluid. Mean progression in those cases which progressed was 2.3 disc diameters (dd) and the average rate of progression was 1.80 dd/day. Binary regression analysis failed to reveal any statistically significant risk factors for progression. Multiple regression analyses were made to identify risk factors. With distance of SRF from fovea at operation as a function, distance of SRF at presentation was the only statistically significant risk factor. In all, 26% of patients underwent surgery out-of-hours. A total of 83% patients achieved a 6-week best-corrected vision of 6/9 or better.

Conclusion

Most retinal detachments in this study did not progress within the first few days. The distance of SRF from the fovea at presentation was the only statistically significant risk factor for progression to foveal detachment.