title: [The incidence of retinal tears in patients with posterior vitreous detachment].
abstract: Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common finding in older patients, characterized by detachment of the posterior hyaloid membrane (PHM) from the retinal surface. The detachment of PHM normally occurs without complications, however, one has to be aware that retinal tear is its most common complication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of retinal tears in eyes with PVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of 40 patients (70 eyes) with PVD were included in this retrospective study. Eyes with a history of ocular trauma, surgery or intraocular inflammation were excluded. Patient charts were reviewed to collect the following information: age, sex, profession, type and duration of symptoms, best corrected visual acuity, refractive status, prior ocular disease, coincidental retinal pathology-lattice degeneration, number, type and location of retinal tears and treatment. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS 11.0.3 software (SPSS Inc., USA). Besides descriptive statistics, Student's t-test and chi2-test were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all study eyes with PVD, 34 (48.6%) were myopic, 24 (34.3%) hypermetropic and 12 (17.1%) emetropic; statistical analysis showed a significant difference (chi2 = 10.40, df=2, p < 0.01). In 6 (8.6%) eyes with PVD lattice malignant degeneration of peripheral retinal was diagnosed. Thorough examination of the fundus periphery revealed 16 (22.8%) eyes with PVD were found to have retinal tears, 11 (15.7%) had only one retinal tear and 5 (7.1%) two retinal tears. All retinal tears were treated with argon laser photocoagulation. Superotemporal eye quadrant was the most common localization of retinal tears (56.25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that thorough fundus periphery examination should be done in all patients with PVD because it can cause rather rarely though retinal tears that represent a potentially sight threatening condition.
authors.affiliation: Klinika za ocne bolesti Medicinskog fakulteta Sveueiligta u Splitu, Klinicka bolnica Split, Split. ksenija.karaman@st.htnet.hr
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Antonela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gverović-Antunica
authors.forename: Kajo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bućan
authors.forename: Ljubo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Znaor
authors.forename: Dijana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bulović
authors.forename: Sinia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skelin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000150:complications; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology