Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
Risk Factors for Retinal Detachment: A Case-Control Study
David Kriebel1, Susan R Sama, Michael Bradbury
1Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts (Drs Kriebel, Sama, Buchholz, DeVries, Fleckner, Gore, Wegman), Reliant Medical Group, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts (Drs Sama, Daines), Retinal Consultants, Worcester, Massachusetts (Dr Bradbury), Universita' di Bologna, Bologna, Italy (Drs Curti, Mattioli), School of Optometry, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Worcester, Massachusetts (Dr Deliso) and Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Shah).
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for retinal detachment or tear (RD/T), and follow up two studies that found increased risk from work-related heavy lifting.
Methods:
We conducted a case-control study including 200 cases of RD/T and 415 controls. Participants completed a questionnaire covering general health, vision, and physical exertion. Multiple logistic regression and propensity score matching was used to control confounding and estimate independent effects.
Results:
RD/T risk was increased by one lifting measure: current regular lifting of more than 30 lbs (>13.6 kg). In the population aged less than 65 years, the odds ratio comparing those with/without heavy lifting was 1.81, 95% confidence interval = 1.08 to 3.04.
Conclusion:
Occupational heavy lifting may represent a risk factor for RD/T, but further research is needed in populations with frequent heavy physical exertion to more precisely quantify the risk.
