Exudative Retinal Detachment in Nigerians: Demographics and Causes

Olukorede O Adenuga; Martha-Mary Ekong Udoh; Ogugua Ndubuisi Okonkwo; Wilson Ovienria; Dennis George Nkanga; Idris Oyekunle; Affiong Andem Ibanga; Toyin Akanbi; Chineze Thelma Agweye; Collaborative Retina Research Network (CRRN) Study Report

doi:10.4103/jwas.jwas_41_23

Exudative Retinal Detachment in Nigerians: Demographics and Causes

J West Afr Coll Surg. 2023 Oct-Dec;13(4):63-66. doi: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_41_23. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Authors

Olukorede O Adenuga¹, Martha-Mary Ekong Udoh², Ogugua Ndubuisi Okonkwo³, Wilson Ovienria⁴, Dennis George Nkanga², Idris Oyekunle³, Affiong Andem Ibanga², Toyin Akanbi³, Chineze Thelma Agweye²; Collaborative Retina Research Network (CRRN) Study Report

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
² Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Foundation Hospital, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Exudative retinal detachment (ERD) is a rare type of retinal detachment (RD), and information on its causes and presentation in Nigerians and Black Africans is scarce.

Aim: To report the prevalence, vision at presentation, and causes of ERD in a cohort of RD patients.

Materials and methods: A prospective, multicentre, hospital-based study. We examined consecutive eyes diagnosed with ERD in ophthalmic patients seen within 1 year in four ophthalmic hospitals in Nigeria. The patients had a complete eye examination, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, slit lamp examination of the anterior segment, dilated fundus examination, and other ancillary investigations. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0.

Results: Nine out of 237 patients were diagnosed with ERD, giving a hospital-based prevalence of 3.8% of RDs. The mean age of patients was 45.8 ± 21.6 years (6 months-80 years), male:female = 2:1. ERD was bilateral in one patient and unilateral in eight patients. There was no gender association (P = 0.84), but systemic disease was associated with a risk of ERD (P = 0.001). Five out of 9 (55.6%) patients had an associated systemic disease. The systemic diseases include two patients (40%) who had chronic renal failure, two patients (40%) who had systemic hypertension, and one patient (10%) who had lung cancer. Other ocular causes of ERD include post endophthalmitis, coats disease, and age-related macular degeneration in one eye each. 80 % of eyes were blind at presentation.

Conclusion: ERD is a rare form of RD in Nigerians and is associated with systemic diseases. There are inflammatory, neoplastic, vascular, and degenerative causes of ERD. At presentation, most eyes are blind. Early presentation will be beneficial in salvaging vision. Also, awareness of the occurrence and causes of ERD should be created amongst eye care practitioners.

Keywords: Exudative retinal detachment; Nigeria; malignancy; serous retinal detachment; systemic hypertension.