Complications of Acute Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Abstract

To evaluate the risk factors for retinal tear (RT) or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with acute, symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in a large comprehensive eye care setting. Retrospective cohort study. A total of 8305 adult patients in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Healthcare System (KPNC) during calendar year 2018 who met inclusion criteria. The KPNC electronic medical record was queried to capture acute, symptomatic PVD events. Each chart was reviewed to confirm diagnoses and capture specific data elements from the patient history and ophthalmic examination. Presence of RT or RRD at initial presentation or within 1 year thereafter. Of 8305 patients who presented with acute PVD symptoms, 448 (5.4%) were diagnosed with RT and 335 (4.0%) were diagnosed with RRD. When considering variables available before examination, blurred vision (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; confidence interval [CI], 2.2-3.3), male sex (OR, 2.1; CI, 1.8-2.5), age < 60 years (OR,1.8; CI, 1.5-2.1), prior keratorefractive surgery (OR, 1.6; CI, 1.3-2.0), and prior cataract surgery (OR, 1.4; CI, 1.2-1.8) were associated with higher risk of RT or RRD, whereas symptoms of flashes were mildly protective (OR,0.8; CI, 0.7-0.9). Examination variables associated with a high risk of RT or RRD included vitreous pigment (OR, 57.0; CI, 39.7-81.7), vitreous hemorrhage (OR, 5.9; CI, 4.6-7.5), lattice degeneration (OR, 6.0; CI, 4.7-7.7), and visual acuity worse than 20/40 (OR, 3.0; CI, 2.5-3.7). Late RTs or RRDs occurred in 12.4% of patients who had vitreous hemorrhage, lattice degeneration, or a history of RT or RRD in the fellow eye at initial presentation but only 0.7% of patients without any of these 3 risk factors. Refractive error had an approximately linear relationship with age at presentation of PVD, with myopic patients presenting at a younger age (r= 0.4). This study, based in a comprehensive eye care setting, found the rate of RT and RRD associated with acute PVD to be lower than rates previously reported by retina subspecialty practices. Several patient features strongly predicted the presence of initial and late complications of acute PVD.