Substantial increase in the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in Western Norway over 20 years.

Abstract

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and describe characteristics of the RRD population.MethodsRetrospective, observational case series. Data on residents of South Rogaland, Norway, diagnosed with primary RRD in the period 2000–2019 were obtained by medical chart review. Patient demographics and prior intraocular surgery were documented. Incidence rates adjusted to the Norwegian population were calculated for 5‐year periods and stratified by age, sex and lens status.ResultsThe RRD incidence increased from 12.6 per 100 000 person‐years in 2000–2004 to 20.2 in 2015–2019. The RRD incidence increased by 2.9% per year (p < 0.0001) corresponding to an accumulated increase of 77%. Demographic changes accounted for 30% of the increase. The pseudophakic RRD incidence increased yearly by 4.9% (p < 0.0001), over double the rate of the phakic RRD increase of 2.3% (p = 0.0005). In individuals ≥50 years old, the annual RRD incidence increase was 4.5% (p = 0.019) for pseudophakic females, 3.9% (p = 0.001) for pseudophakic males and 2.6% (p = 0.03) for phakic females. Males were younger compared with females when undergoing lens exchange surgery, 58.5 (SD 12.5) versus 62.4 (SD 13.2) years, (p = 0.013) and when diagnosed with pseudophakic RRD, 61.9 (SD 12.5) versus 68.2 (SD 12.9) years, (p < 0.0001). There was no significant increase in subjects under 50 years of age.ConclusionThe RRD incidence increased dramatically over 20 years, of which 30% was attributed to demographic changes. The most pronounced change occurred in pseudophakic RRD, which calls for raised awareness of the individual risk related to lens exchange surgery.