Purpose: To describe the clinical presentations and outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa.
Methods: A retrospective review of all patients of retinitis pigmentosa with RRD from January 1990 to December 2013 at a tertiary eye care institute.
Results: Of total 28,622 patients of retinitis pigmentosa over a 23-year period, 17 eyes of 17 patients had RRD. Mean age at presentation was 34.53 ± 16.42 years (median 32 years). Median duration of decreased vision attributed to RRD was 6 months. Ten eyes (59%) had cataract and 3 eyes (18%) had history of cataract surgery. Thirteen eyes (76%) had inferior retinal detachment; 9 eyes (53%) had lattice with retinal holes; and 8 eyes (47%) had atrophic retinal holes. There were no horse-shoe tears, giant retinal tears, dialysis, and macular holes related RRD. Majority (82%) of retinal breaks were in the inferotemporal quadrant. Only 3 eyes (18%) had proliferative vitreoretinopathy at presentation. Twelve eyes at presentation had best-corrected visual acuity <20/200 and 6 eyes had only light perception. The macula was involved by the detachment in all cases. Mean preoperative visual acuity was 1.4 ± 0.88 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (median 1.3, range 3-0.1; 20/502). Surgery was not advised in 6 eyes (35% patients); 5 eyes (30%) underwent scleral buckling and 6 eyes (35%) underwent vitrectomy. Median follow-up was 5 months. Reattachment rate at last follow-up was 91% (15 eyes). Mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity recorded was 1.06 ± 0.8 (median 1, range 3-0.1; 20/229) (P = 0.15). Eight eyes at last visit had best-corrected visual acuity <20/200. Of the 11 eyes operated, 4 improved in vision and 7 retained the preoperative vision.
Conclusion: The incidence of RRD in retinitis pigmentosa is very low. Presentation, although delayed, is at a younger age. Horse-shoe tears and proliferative vitreoretinopathy are uncommon; cataract is a common coexisting pathology. Surgical reattachment rates appear high and recurrent RRD is uncommon. However, visual gain is limited by the underlying retinal degenerative condition.