Prognosis of foveal splitting rhegmatogenous retinal detachments

Retrospectively reviewing 4,966 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, we identified 21 patients with foveal split detachments who had no coexisting macular disease and who had been followed at least 6 months postoperatively. All detached retinas were anatomically reattached with one operation. The average preoperative and postoperative visual acuity was 20/50. Because eyes with foveal split detachments have a good visual prognosis when the retinas are anatomically reattached, we recommend that they be treated urgently, as if they had a macular-spared detachment.