ASYMPTOMATIC RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENTS

Objective: To describe the clinical. characteristics and risk of progr ession of asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 28 patients (31 eyes ) with asymptomatic rhegmatogenous retinal detachments followed up wit hout surgery for 0.5 to 12.1 years (mean, 3.4 years). Tractional tears were present in six eyes and atrophic holes in 25 eyes. In five patie nts, the asymptomatic retinal detachment was noted when the patient pr esented with a symptomatic retinal detachment in the fellow eye. Resul ts: Twenty-nine of the 31 eyes remained asymptomatic without progressi on of the retinal detachment. Two eyes progressed to a symptomatic ret inal detachment 2.25 and 3.3 years after the initial examination, unde rwent a successful scleral buckling procedure, and maintained 20/20 vi sual acuity. Conclusions: Observation can be considered a reasonable o ption in the treatment of patients with asymptomatic retinal detachmen ts. Chart documentation of the risks and benefits of observation and i nstruction of the patient on self-monitoring of the peripheral visual field are necessary in such patients.