Incidence and Surgical Management of Simultaneous Bilateral Retinal Detachment.

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous bilateral retinal detachment (RD) is very rare and its incidence has not been very well characterised.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of RD cases treated at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital between 1999 and 2010.

RESULTS: Over the 11 year period, 10 patients (20 eyes) with simultaneous bilateral RD were identified (average incidence among RD= 0.9 %). Mean age: 46.4 ± 17.6 years, with a M : F Ratio of 6 : 4. Pseudophakia was present in 10 eyes and myopia ≥-5.0 dioptres in 11 eyes. Visual symptoms were unilateral in 7 patients, bilateral in 2 patients and absent in one patient. RD was macula-on in 15 eyes and macula-off in 5 eyes. Atrophic holes were present in 11 eyes, U-tears in 6 eyes and a combination in 3 eyes. Primary surgery consisted of buckle surgery (11 eyes), vitrectomy (6 eyes) and combines technique (3 eyes). The final anatomical success rate was 100 %. Mean follow-up time was 22.7 ± 4.95 months.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of bilateral simultaneous RD appears to be very low and surgical success rates are excellent. Bilateral pre-operative dilated fundoscopy is mandatory, as the majority of patients have unilateral symptoms.