Characteristics and outcomes of sequential rhegmatogenous retinal detachments

While copious data exist regarding the incidence, treatment, and prognosis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), fewer data exist regarding bilateral RRD.

The authors performed a retrospective review of patients with sequential bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachments over a 5-year period from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2014, that were repaired at a single institution. Data were reviewed for 80 eyes of 40 patients, which is the largest series of sequential RRD reported.

In patients with sequential RRD, the subsequently affected eyes were more likely to present with better initial visual acuity, shorter duration of symptoms, less macula-off status, and less concurrent proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The subsequent eye had better final visual acuity and was less likely to re-detach. Subsequent eyes tended to progress to RRD despite prophylactic retinopexy.

The constellation of baseline characteristics in which subsequent eyes presented with better initial visual acuity, shorter duration of symptoms, less macula-detached status, and less concurrent proliferative vitreoretinopathy when compared to the initial eye correspond with the findings that subsequent eyes had more successful anatomical and better visual outcomes.