The aetiology of paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: 15 years experience

Purpose To provide contemporary data on the aetiology of paediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in the UK population. Methods Retrospective case series. Results Eighty-eight eyes in 82 patients ( aged 0-16 years) were treated for RRD at Bristol Eye Hospital between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2004. Seventy-three per cent of patients were male and the main predisposing factors were trauma (53%), associated conditions (27%), and high myopia (17%). Nineteen per cent of RRDs were idiopathic, and the majority of these were due to inferotemporal dialyses. The macula was detached on presentation in 66% of eyes. Conclusions The principal causes of paediatric RRDs have not changed over the past 40 years. Those due to congenital cataracts, retinopathy of prematurity, uveitis, and glaucoma are now less prevalent, presumably reflecting advances in their management. Differences with other contemporary series may arise from geographical variation in the prevalence of myopia and other associated conditions, as well as institutional referral patterns. Full examination of the retinal periphery is advised for children with eye injuries (to exclude dialyses).