Temporal occurrence of retinal detachments after cataract surgery

To characterize the temporal occurrence of retinal detachments (RD) after cataract surgery.

In this retrospective, consecutive case series, we reviewed the charts of 798 pseudophakic patients with primary rhegmatogenous RD that underwent surgery between 1999 and 2009, at the Center of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Germany.

Twenty-five percent of all pseudophakic RDs occurred within 1 year after cataract surgery, 50% within 3.2 years and 90% within 9.9 years. Risk was increased for at least 11 years. The time interval was significantly shorter in vitrectomized eyes (2.49 versus 4.31 years, p = 0.016). Women showed a statistical trend towards longer time intervals (4.72 versus 3.93 years, p = 0.052), whereas myopic patients and different age groups showed no significant difference.

After cataract surgery, the risk for RD was highest in the beginning and decreased continuously over time. However, the risk was increased for at least 11 years. Therefore, most studies have underestimated the incidence of RD after cataract surgery.