The incidence and rate of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment seven years after cataract surgery in patients with high myopia.
BACKGROUND
Cataract extraction is the most commonly performed surgery in the National Health Service. Myopia increases the risk of postoperative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and rate of RRD seven years after cataract extraction in highly myopic eyes.


METHODS
Retrospective review was performed of notes of all high myopes (axial length 26.0 mm or more) who underwent cataract extraction during the study period in one centre.


RESULTS
84 eyes met the study criteria. Follow-up time from surgery was 93 to 147 months (median 127 months). The average axial length was 28.72 mm (sd 1.37). Two eyes developed post-operative RRD; the incidence was 2.4% and the rate one RRD per 441.6 person-years. The results of 15 other studies on the incidence of RRD after cataract extraction in high myopia were pooled and combined with our estimate.


CONCLUSIONS
Both patients in our study who developed RRD had risk factors for this complication as well as high myopia. Risk factors are discussed in the light of our results and the pooled estimate. Our follow-up time is longer than most. Future case series should calculate rates to allow meaningful comparison of case series.
Williams
Michael A
MA
Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BA, UK. mikewilliams99@hotmail.com
McGimpsey
Stuart
S
Abugreen
Salwa
S
Chan
Wing
W
Sharkey
James A
JA
Best
Richard M
RM
Johnston
Patrick B
PB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors