Comparative analysis of the characteristics of bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

To investigate the characteristics of bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in a hospital-based population. Six hundred and three patients diagnosed with bilateral RRD in the Beijing Tongren Hospital between January 2000 and January 2014 were identified and included into the study. The clinical features including the age when retinal detachment occurrence, time interval between the occurrence of the bilateral RRDs, predisposing characteristics such as myopia, trauma, et al. were recorded by a chart review. Out of 8 283 patients treated for primary RRD in the study period, (7.30±2.45)%(603 patients) developed a RRD in the contralateral eye, with a mean age of (30.76 ± 15.31)years (range: 2-68) when the first RRD occurred. 4.8% of the patients primarily presented with a simultaneous bilateral RRD. Most RRD occurred firstly in the left eye (52.90%). Compared with the follow eye, the first RRD occurred with more macula detachment (P=0.03, OR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.04-2.45) and retinal proliferation (P=0.04, OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.02-2.42), the visual outcome was more worse. Mean interval between the bilateral RRDs was (3.73±7.05) years (mean±standard deviation, range: 0-56 years) The younger, more severe symptoms of the firstly occurred RRD, the shorter interval between the bilateral RRD. Time interval between the bilateral RRD was shorter in those RRD firstly occurred with macula detachment, giant tears, horse-shoe tear, located in the temporal superior region, or with retinal degeneration. Compared with highly myopic eyes, the interval between the bilateral RRD were shorter in moderately myopic eyes. For patients newly diagnosed with RRD, regardless of age, are required to a lifelong follow-up for the contralateral eye, especially within one year. Patients who were young, with heavier symptoms, low to moderate myopia or present with retinal degeneration, should be closely followed up in a short time after the first RRD occurred.