An analytical study of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

A retinal detachment is not really a detachment of the complete retina, but rather the separation of the neural component from the pigment component. The neural retina can be pulled off by the vitreoretinal traction or raised by exudation or by a tumour, but damage most commonly occurs when a break in its surface permits liquefied vitreous to pass from the vitreous cavity into the potential space that exists between the two retinal layers. A break in the retinal surface alone is not enough to give rise to detachment. Fluid can only collect beneath the neuroretina if it is both available and has access to retinal break. Such circumstances arise when the vitreous gel collapses and separates the posterior vitreous cortex from the retinal surface. Aetiologically, retinal breaks may result either from some induced weakness in the retina itself or from some apparent interplay between the retina and the vitreous. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION This study confirms that the incidence of RRD was found to increase with age and in association with myopia, cataract surgery, fellow eye RD, familial predisposition, YAG capsulotomy and trauma. Hence the fellow eye should be properly examined to rule out any predisposing peripheral degeneration and should be given prophylactic therapy. Early identification of PCR during surgery with proper anterior vitrectomy and cleanup of vitreous from wound is essential to prevent vitreous traction and subsequent development of RRD. This study clearly indicates that anatomical attachment after external buckling procedure does not correlate with functional success. Duration of macular detachment and extent and elevation of detachment are the main predictors for the functional recovery. Hence patient education regarding early symptoms, periodic detailed fundus examination especially in myopes and in postoperative patients who has increased risk in the first year after surgery should be emphasized. In those cases prompt early management may improve the visual outcome.