Climate and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Comprehensive Review and Future Research Guidelines

Purpose: Does weather affect the rate of developing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)? This comprehensive review investigates the findings of the most recent studies on the relationship between RRD and climatic or seasonal factors. Methods: An extensive search across PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases resulted in 112 initial results, from which 18 studies published between 1980 and 2024 were selected. The selection criteria were based on the studies' relevance to our topic. We analyzed their methodology, geographic scope, and key findings. Data extraction encompassed study design, sample size, sex ratio, incidence rates, results, and identified limitations. Results: Eight studies found no statistically significant relationship between seasonal variations and the incidence of RRD. Conversely, seven studies reported an increased incidence of RRD during the summer months. Additionally, secondary analyses of factors, such as ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and daylight hours, showed varied and sometimes conflicting results. A summary of common limitations and biases was synthesized into a table, providing guidelines for future research exploring this topic. Conclusion: This comprehensive review highlights the complex interaction between environmental factors and RRD incidence. The conflicting results across different studies suggest a need for further research in this area. Future studies should address the identified limitations and biases to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between climate and RRD. By utilizing the guidelines from our review, future research could aim to minimize confounding factors and improve the robustness of their findings. Understanding these interactions can be used to develop preventive strategies and enhance clinical practices to reduce the burden of RRD.