Retinal detachment. A study of a population-based patient material in Sweden 1971-1981. II. Pre-operative findings

Abstract

In a population-based material of patients with retinal detachment (RD), the pre-operative findings in different subgroups were studied. In traumatic cases flap tears and round holes were found in at least as high a frequency as oral dialysis, or even higher. In aphakic cases subtotal or total RD was often observed on admission for surgery. A high proportion of aphakic eyes without lattice degeneration exhibited no breaks. RD in myopic eyes was usually large, and round holes were frequently found. Full-thickness fixed retinal folds were more seldom seen pre-operatively en myopic than in non-myopic eyes. Lattice degeneration was usually observed in myopic RD patients of ages less than 30 years, but mainly in hyperopic or emmetropic eyes in patients over 60. In RD with lattice, multiple breaks were frequently found. A comparatively large group of RD cases without lattice were non-traumatic, phakic and non-myopic (40%). Most of these patients were 60 years and older. Flap tears were often seen, and the detachment was seldom large in this group.