A Case Series Of Risk Factors and Surgical Outcomes Of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment In Asian Children

1. Anis Farhad
2. Ronald Das
3. KS Lim
4. Andrew Lim

Selayang Hospital

Purpose:
To describe the risk factors and surgical outcomes of paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in Asian children.

Method:
27 eyes of 26 children aged 18 or younger undergoing surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments were chosen. Cases were selected by chart review at Selayang Hospital, a tertiary level eye care centre in Malaysya from January 2004 to 1st January 2010. Risk factors for retinal detachments were classified into 3 categories and surgical outcomes were then analysed.

Results:
The median age was 13 years. 88.9% of patients were of male gender. The mean duration of symptoms was 30 days with a range of 2 days to 2 years. Congenital/ developmental abnormalities were identified in 51.9% (14 eyes) of patients followed by trauma 44% (12). Previous ocular surgery accounted for 29.6% of cases. Median preoperative and postoperative visual acuities were counting figures and 3/60 snellen respectively. 14.8% underwent scleral buckling alone as a primary procedure. 85.2% (23) underwent vitrectomy with or without scleral buckling. Retinal reattachment was achieved in 96.3% at final follow up. Predictors for poor visual outcome were: Unmeasurable or light perception only preoperative vision, macula-off retinal detachments, need for vitrectomy surgery, the presence of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) grade C and the use of silicone oil.

Conclusion:
Congenital developmental abnormalities and trauma are the commonest predisposing factors for retinal detachments in Asian children. Predictors of surgical outcomes are similar to the adult population.