Purpose: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis has been reported to have several similarities to retinal detachment with blunt trauma both in location and types of retinal breaks. To clarify the difference between these two types of retinal detachment, the clinical features of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis to those with blunt trauma were compared.
Method: Among phakic eyes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment which underwent surgery in our clinic between 2006 and 2011, 51 eyes of 41 cases of retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis (Atopy group) and 53 eyes of 51 cases of retinal detachment with blunt trauma (Trauma group) were compared.
Results: In the Atopy group, the patients were younger, and the incidence of cataracts and bilateral detachment were more frequent. In the Trauma group, the occurence was more frequent in men and associated vitreous hemorrhage and iritis were more frequent. Shallow retinal detachments and ciliary breaks located at the superotemporal quadrant were more frequent in the Atopy group and bullous detachments and retinal breaks located at the superonasal quadrant were more frequent in the trauma group. Oral dialysis and ciliary breaks were frequent in both groups. The initial retinal reattachment rates were similar between both groups but the final reattachment rate was worse in the trauma group.
Conclusions: Retinal detachment associated with atopic dermatitis had many similarities to the detachment with blunt trauma in types of retinal breaks. However, it was distinct in featuring higher incidence of bilateral retinal detachment, cataracts, and ciliary breaks at the superotemporal quadrant.