Risk of bilateral idiopathic preretinal macular fibrosis

To ascertain the risk of the development of bilateral idiopathic preretinal macular fibrosis, we retrospectively studied 380 consecutive patients with idiopathic preretinal macular fibrosis. Eighty (21%) patients had bilateral involvement. Sixteen (39%) of 41 patients with diabetes, 40 (28%) of 144 with hypertension, and 12 of 21 (57%) with bilateral high myopia had bilateral involvement. The prevalence of bilateral involvement was significantly higher in patients with these three pathologies than in patients without these conditions (p < 0.01, p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively). In patients with diabetes or hypertension, no significant difference was found in the prevalence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) between involved or uninvolved eyes. Diabetes, hypertension even without retinopathy, and high myopia may be risk factors for bilateral involvement of idiopathic preretinal macular fibrosis. Factors other than PVD may be involved in the development of idiopathic preretinal macular fibrosis in patients with diabetes or hypertension.