title: Retinal detachment in the second eye.
abstract: Bilateral retinal detachment (RD) occurred in 13% of 737 patients, with an interval between detachments of up to 30 years. Bilateral RD was more common in male patients and in those having more than 3 diopters of myopia. Detachment in the second eye was caused by retinal breaks in previously observed degeneration in 43% and in unsuspected diseased retina 57%. A significant number of patients with bilateral RD had multiple breaks. Aphakic RD occurred in bilateral RD and in unilateral RD patients at a comparable frequency; 28% of bilateral (mean duration, four years) and 35% of unilateral aphakic RDs occurred within one year of cataract surgery. Symptoms from retinal breaks were not reliable prognostic factors; only 39% of patients had warning before RD. Patients with bilateral RD had more reoperations with fewer successes, factors suggesting greater severity than unilateral RD.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology