CLINICAL-FEATURES OF RETINAL-DETACHMENT IN THE ELDERLY

We conducted a retrospective study of 636 eyes (624 patients, aged 65 years or more) to identify the clinical features of nontraumatic retin al detachment in the elderly. The incidence of retinal detachment due to a macular hole in our series (21%) was much higher than those descr ibed in previous reports, suggesting a racial difference between Japan ese and Caucasian patients. Tractional tear was seen more commonly in patients of less advanced age. In addition, in our series of elderly p atients, we demonstrated (1) a preponderance of retinal breaks in the upper temporal quadrant, (2) a high incidence of aphakic retinal detac hment, (3) a preponderance of females to be affected and (4) broad det achment of the retina that involved the macula.