Retinal detachment in the second eye
W. V. Delaney Jr and R. P. Oates
Bilateral retinal detachment (RD) occurred in 13% of 737 patients, with an
interval between detachments of up to 30 years. Bilateral RD was more
common in male patients and in those having more than 3 diopters of myopia.
Detachment in the second eye was caused by retinal breaks in previously
observed degeneration in 43% and in unsuspected diseased retina 57%. A
significant number of patients with bilateral RD had multiple breaks.
Aphakic RD occurred in bilateral RD and in unilateral RD patients at a
comparable frequency; 28% of bilateral (mean duration, four years) and 35%
of unilateral aphakic RDs occurred within one year of cataract surgery.
Symptoms from retinal breaks were not reliable prognostic factors; only 39%
of patients had warning before RD. Patients with bilateral RD had more
reoperations with fewer successes, factors suggesting greater severity than
unilateral RD.
