The risk of fellow eye visual loss with unilateral retinal pigment epithelial tears.
To identify the magnitude of risk of fellow-eye visual loss, we reviewed the records of 43 patients with unilateral central visual loss caused by a tear of detached retinal pigment epithelium seen in our institution over a period of one to 13 years. Loss of vision because of complications of age-related macular disease occurred in 16 of 43 patients (37%) in the first year, seven of 23 patients (30%) in the second year, and eight of 16 patients (50%) in the third year. An additional five patients lost visual acuity between the third and eighth years of follow-up. The cumulative risk of loss of visual acuity was 37% in one year, 59% in two years, and 80% in three years. Visual loss occurred in 29 of the 36 eyes as a result of a complication of retinal pigment epithelial detachment. The magnitude of risk to the fellow eye was greater than has been documented in unselected age-related macular degeneration.
Schoeppner
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G
Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England.
Chuang
E L
EL
Bird
A C
AC
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity