The Association between the Frequency of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment and Atmospheric Temperature

Abstract

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency was observed to be higher with an increase in the daily temperature range. This showed that a wide daily range of temperature, rather than the absolute value of the temperature, is associated with the occurrence of RRD. Purpose. To investigate the association between the frequency of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and the atmospheric temperature. Method. A retrospective review of consecutive eyes that had undergone primary RRD surgery from 1996 to 2016 at Chungbuk National University Hospital was conducted. Temperature data (highest, lowest, and mean daily temperatures and daily temperature range) in Chungbuk Province were obtained from the Korean Meteorological Administration database. We investigated the relationship between the daily temperature range and the frequency of RRD surgery. We also analyzed the association between various temperature data and the frequency of RRD surgery. Result. There were 1,394 RRD surgeries from 1996 to 2016. Among them, 974 eyes were included in this study. The monthly average number of RRD operations showed a bimodal peak (in April and October) throughout the year. With the same tendency as the frequency of RRD, the monthly average of the daily temperature range over 1 year also showed a bimodal peak in April and October. There was a significant positive correlation between the monthly average of the daily temperature range and the number of RRD surgeries (r = 0.297, P < 0.001). However, there were no associations between RRD frequency and the mean temperature, highest temperature, and lowest temperature. Conclusion. The higher the daily temperature range, the higher was the RRD frequency observed. We speculated that dynamic changes in temperature during the day may affect degrees in chorioretinal adhesion and liquefaction of the vitreous, which may eventually result in retinal detachment. Therefore, further experimental studies on the correlation between temperature changes and retinal detachment are needed.

Figure 1

The number of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgeries and the respective daily temperature ranges. The monthly average number of RRD surgeries showed a bimodal peak (April and October) over the year. With the same tendency as the frequency of RRD, the monthly average of the daily temperature range for 1 year also showed a bimodal peak in April (daily temperature range, 12.3°C) and October (daily temperature range, 11.2°C).

Figure 2

The correlation between rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency and daily temperature range. There was a significant positive correlation between the monthly average of the daily temperature range and the number of RRD surgeries (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.297, P < 0.001).

Figure 3

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency and daily temperature range according to sex. Even on separate analysis of men and women, the monthly average number of RRD surgeries showed a bimodal peak (April and October) throughout the year and a significant positive correlation was found between the monthly average of daily temperature range and the number of RRD surgeries (male, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.220, P=0.001; female, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.203, P=0.002).

Figure 4

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency and daily temperature range according to age. A positive correlation was found between the monthly average of daily temperature ranges and the number of RRD surgeries, regardless of age (<30 years, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.174, P=0.009; ≤30 years and <50 years, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.179, P=0.007; ≤50 years, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.192, P=0.004).

Figure 5

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency and absolute temperature. There was no correlation between RRD frequency and the highest, lowest, and mean temperatures.