Asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments
R. D. Brod, H. W. Flynn Jr and D. A. Lightman
Department of Ophthalmology, Hershey (Pa) Medical Center, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and risk of progression
of asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. METHODS: We
retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 28 patients (31 eyes) with
asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments followed up without surgery
for 0.5 to 12.1 years (mean, 3.4 years). Tractional tears were present in
six eyes and atrophic holes in 25 eyes. In five patients, the asymptomatic
retinal detachment was noted when the patient presented with a symptomatic
retinal detachment in the fellow eye. RESULTS: Twenty-nine of the 31 eyes
remained asymptomatic without progression of the retinal detachment. Two
eyes progressed to a symptomatic retinal detachment 2.25 and 3.3 years
after the initial examination, underwent a successful scleral buckling
procedure, and maintained 20/20 visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Observation can
be considered a reasonable option in the treatment of patients with
asymptomatic retinal detachments. Chart documentation of the risks and
benefits of observation and instruction of the patient on self-monitoring
of the peripheral visual field are necessary in such patients.
