Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- loss or deterioration of central vision
- flashes of light
- loss of peripheral visual field
Other diagnostic factors
- floaters
Risk factors
- posterior vitreous detachment
- increasing age
- myopia exceeding -8 D
- previous cataract surgery
- trauma
- ocular inflammation/infection
- previous ophthalmic surgery
- intraocular tumor
- vitreous hemorrhage
- affected fellow eye
- diabetes mellitus
- peripheral retinal degeneration
- anatomic abnormality
- age-related macular degeneration
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- visual acuity testing
- slit-lamp exam
- indirect ophthalmoscopy
Investigations to consider
- B-scan ultrasonography of affected eye
- CT/MRI of orbit
Treatment algorithm
posterior vitreous detachment without break/tear
retinal hole/tear without detachment
rhegmatogenous RD
tractional RD
exudative RD
hemorrhagic RD
Contributors
Authors
Ferenc Kuhn, MD, PhD

Director of Clinical Research
Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham
AL
Consultant and Chief Vitreoretinal Surgeon
Milos Klinika
Belgrade
Serbia
Consultant
Zagorskiego Klinik
Nałęczów/Rzeszów
Poland
Disclosures
FK declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Kuhn would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Robert Morris, a previous contributor to this monograph. RM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
David Steel, MBBS, FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Sunderland Eye Infirmary
Sunderland
UK
Disclosures
DS declares that he has no competing interests.
Michael W. Stewart, MD
Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville
FL
Disclosures
MWS declares that he has no competing interests.
Ron Adelman, MD, MPH, FACS
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven
CT
Disclosures
RA declares that he has no competing interests.
Scott Fraser, MD, FRCS (Ed), FRCOphth
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Sunderland Eye Infirmary
Sunderland
UK
Disclosures
SF declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Retinoschisis
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Retinal vein occlusion
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Posterior vitreous detachment, retinal breaks, and lattice degeneration preferred practice pattern®
More GuidelinesPatient leaflets
Macular degeneration
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