This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (10)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Retinal/ Chorioretinal Disorders  • Retinal Detachment  • Vitreous Disorders  • Alert me on articles by topic

Sanjay Sharma, MD, MSc(Epid); Robin Walker, MD; Gary C. Brown, MD; Alan F. Cruess, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1999;117:343-346.

Objective  To determine whether patients with acute posterior vitreous detachment with pigmented vitreous granules or hemorrhage have a higher likelihood of retinal tear compared with those with qualitatively normal vitreous examination findings.

Methods  A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed in 3 peripheral ophthalmic clinics. Patients with acute posterior vitreous detachment were examined for the presence or absence of vitreous pigment granules, vitreous hemorrhage, and horseshoe retinal tear.

Results  Fifty-nine consecutive patients with acute posterior vitreous detachment met our eligibility criteria. Eight patients had a retinal tear, and thus its prevalence in our study was almost 14%. Thirteen patients (22%) had a high likelihood because they had evidence of either pigmented vitreous granules or hemorrhage. The prevalence of retinal tear in the setting of acute posterior detachment associated with vitreous hemorrhage alone, pigment alone, or vitreous hemorrhage and pigment was 54%. Patients with posterior vitreous detachment with pigmented vitreous granules or hemorrhage were significantly more likely to have a retinal tear (odds ratio, 52.0; 95% confidence interval, 5.4-497.0). Patients with a retinal tear were 7 times more likely to have pigmented vitreous granules or hemorrhage (LR + ve=7.4, in which LR + ve indicates positive likelihood ratio; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-16.4).

Conclusion  Patients with posterior vitreous detachment with vitreous pigment granules or hemorrhage are 52 times more likely to have a retinal tear compared with those who have normal findings on qualitative vitreous examination.

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario (Drs Sharma, Walker, and Cruess); and the Retina Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa (Drs Sharma and Brown).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Management of retinal detachment: a guide for non-ophthalmologists
Kang and Luff
BMJ 2008;336:1235-1240.
FULL TEXT  

Symptoms and Findings Predictive for the Development of New Retinal Breaks
van Overdam et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:479-484.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Avulsed Retinal Vessel With Operculated Retinal Break
Vote and Polkinghorne
Arch Ophthalmol 2002;120:1594-1595.
FULL TEXT  

Symptoms Predictive for the Later Development of Retinal Breaks
van Overdam et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1483-1486.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Photorefractive Keratectomy and Laser In Situ Keratomileusis: A Word From the Devil's Advocate
Ben-nun
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:1706-1707.
FULL TEXT  

Acute posterior vitreous detachment: the predictive value of vitreous pigment and symptomatology
Tanner et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2000;84:1264-1268.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT