Pediatric Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments: Etiologies, Clinical Course, and Surgical Outcomes

Madeline E Sparks1,2, Pedro J Davila1,2, Yu-Guang He1,2

  • 1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Insights

Pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is often linked to trauma, myopia, or prior surgery. Scleral buckle surgery showed higher success rates for RRD repair in children compared to vitrectomy alone.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Retinal Diseases

Background:

  • Pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a rare but serious condition.
  • Predisposing factors significantly influence the presentation and outcomes of pediatric RRD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify predisposing factors for pediatric RRD.
  • To describe the clinical course and surgical management of pediatric RRD.
  • To determine factors influencing anatomic success after surgical repair.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 101 eyes from 94 patients (≤18 years) undergoing RRD surgical repair.
  • Data collected from January 1, 2004, to June 31, 2020, with ≥6 months follow-up.

Main Results:

  • 90% of pediatric RRD cases had predisposing factors: trauma (46%), myopia (41%), prior intraocular surgery (26%), congenital anomaly (23%).
  • Macula-off RRD (81%) and high-grade proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (34%) were common at presentation.
  • Scleral buckle (SB) alone achieved higher anatomic success rates than vitrectomy alone or combined procedures (P=.0002).
  • PVR grade C or worse, total RRD, and vitrectomy alone were associated with poorer outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric RRD is frequently associated with identifiable risk factors.
  • Patients often present with advanced disease, including macula-off detachments and significant PVR.
  • Scleral buckle surgery demonstrates superior anatomic success rates in pediatric RRD repair.