Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Retinal Detachment Model in Rodents by Subretinal Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate
Published on: September 11, 2013
Pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in East Asians
Nan-Kai Wang1, Chen-Hsin Tsai, Yen-Po Chen
1Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Insights
Pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is often linked to myopia or trauma. Younger children face poorer surgical outcomes due to congenital anomalies and total detachment, highlighting age-specific challenges in treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Retinal Surgery
Background:
- Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in children is less common than in adults but can lead to significant vision loss.
- Understanding age-specific predisposing factors and outcomes is crucial for effective pediatric RRD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate clinical features, predisposing factors, and surgical outcomes of pediatric RRD across different age strata.
- To identify factors influencing surgical success and visual recovery in children undergoing RRD repair.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case series analyzed 296 eyes from 278 children (<18 years) undergoing initial RRD surgery (1983-2003).
- Eyes were stratified into three age groups: 0-10 years (Group 1), 11-15 years (Group 2), and 16-18 years (Group 3).
- Predisposing factors included high myopia, trauma, congenital anomalies, and prior intraocular surgery; outcomes assessed were visual acuity and reattachment rates.
Main Results:
- High myopia (38%) and trauma (31%) were the most frequent predisposing factors. Macular involvement was present in 80% of eyes.
- Initial reattachment rates were 72%, with a final reattachment rate of 85% after intervention.
- Poor outcomes correlated with congenital anomalies, prior surgery, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, macula-off status, total detachment, and silicone oil use.
Conclusions:
- Myopia is a key predisposing factor for pediatric RRD, particularly in East Asian populations.
- Age-specific differences in predisposing factors, clinical presentation, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy were observed.
- Younger children (Group 1) exhibited lower reattachment rates and poorer visual recovery due to higher incidences of congenital anomalies and total detachments.
Purpose:
To describe clinical features, predisposing factors, and surgical outcomes of retinal detachment in different age groups in a pediatric population.
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series.
Participants:
A total of 296 eyes from 278 children younger than 18 years of age underwent the first surgical procedure for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment between 1983 and 2003. They were divided into 3 age groups: 38 eyes in group 1 (0-10 years), 107 eyes in group 2 (11-15 years), and 151 eyes in group 3 (16-18 years).
Methods:
Predisposing factors for retinal detachment were classified into 4 categories: (1) high myopia, (2) trauma, (3) congenital or developmental structural ocular abnormalities, and (4) previous intraocular surgery.
Main Outcome Measurements:
Visual acuity and retinal reattachment.
Results:
The mean age of the patients was 14.6 years; 73.7% were boys. The mean follow-up period was 51 months. At least 1 predisposing factor could be identified in 282 (95%) of study eyes. High myopia was most common in 111 eyes (38%). Thirty-one percent of eyes experienced trauma, 17% had structural abnormalities, and 5% underwent previous intraocular surgery. Macular involvement was found in 237 eyes (80%). The initial surgery was scleral buckling alone in 224 eyes (76%). Retinal reattachment was achieved in 214 eyes (72%) after the first operation and in 250 eyes (85%) at the end of intervention. Features seen in patients with a poor surgical outcome included congenital anomaly (P<0.001), previous intraocular surgery (P = 0.007), proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C or worse (P<0.001), macula off (P = 0.001), total retinal detachment (P<0.001), and use of silicone oil (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Myopia is one of the important predisposing factors of pediatric retinal detachment in East Asians. The predisposing factors, clinical features, timing of diagnosis, and frequency of proliferative vitreoretinopathy of retinal detachment are somewhat different in the 3 age groups considered. Because of higher proportions of congenital anomaly, total retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and a low success rate with poor postoperative compliance, patients in group 1 experienced the lowest final reattachment rate and the worst visual recovery.
