The Importance of Keeping a Broad Differential in Retina Clinic: The Spectrum of Ophthalmic Disease Seen by Retina Specialists in a Tertiary Outpatient Clinic Setting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the new patient population referred to retina specialists at tertiary ophthalmic academic centers in the United States. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all new patients seen by retina specialists at Stanford University from 2008 to 2011. RESULTS: Retina specialists saw 7,197 new patients during the study period, with a mean age of 52.2 +/- 25.6 years (range: 0 to 108 years). Younger patients (0 to 10 years) were more likely male (P < .001) while older patients were more likely female (P < .01 for 61 to 70, 81+ years). The most common diagnoses were diabetic eye disease (17.0%), retinopathy of prematurity (9.9%) and age-related macular degeneration (9.5%). CONCLUSION: Retina specialists treat patients of all ages, and the most common diagnoses vary with age and gender. Patients present to retinal clinic with a vast spectrum of disease from various ophthalmic and systemic etiologies; therefore, it is important to maintain a broad differential diagnosis.