Retinal detachment after phacoemulsification in high myopia: Analysis of 2356 cases
Accepted 5 June 2008.
Purpose
To determine the incidence of and risk factors for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) in highly myopic eyes after cataract surgery.
Setting
Two ophthalmology centers in Munich and Ahaus, Germany.
Methods
This retrospective medical chart review comprised 1519 consecutive patients (2356 eyes) with an axial length (AL) greater than 27.0 mm who had planned phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in the capsular bag. In addition, all patients and/or the referring ophthalmologist were contacted regarding the occurrence of RD and laser capsulotomy and the date of occurrence.
Results
Follow-up was longer than 24 months in 84% of eyes. Because some cases of RD were questionably related to the preceding cataract surgery, the absolute incidence of postoperative RD was determined as highest (2.2%) and lowest (1.5%). Sex, history of laser capsulotomy, and increasing AL had no statistically significant effect on the rate of RD. The risk for postoperative RD was significantly higher in eyes of younger patients and eyes with preoperative prophylactic treatment for retinal degeneration.
Conclusions
The risk for postoperative RD in this study (1.5% to 2.2%) corresponds to the incidence of pseudophakic RD and idiopathic RD in myopia described in the literature. The risk profile for postoperative RD in this series cannot be distinguished from the risk profile for idiopathic RD in myopia of this extent. The true effect of prophylactic treatment of degenerative lesions remains to be elucidated.
From the University Eye Hospital Tübingen (I.M. Neuhann), Tübingen, the Eye Department (T.F. Neuhann), Red Cross Hospital, München, the Eye Clinic Ahaus (Schmickler, Gerl), Ahaus, and the Charité–Campus Benjamin Franklin (Foerster), Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; St. Paul's Eye Unit (Heimann), Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Corresponding author: I. Neuhann, MD, FEBO, Tübingen University Eye Hospital, Schleichstrasse 12-16, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any product mentioned.
Presented in part at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Chicago, Illinois, USA, October 2005.
ABSTRACT