Simultaneous bilateral retinal detachment (RD) is very rare and its incidence has not been very well characterised.
Retrospective review of RD cases treated at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital between 1999 and 2010.
Over the 11 year period, 10 patients (20 eyes) with simultaneous bilateral RD were identified (average incidence among RD= 0.9 %). Mean age: 46.4 ± 17.6 years, with a M : F Ratio of 6 : 4. Pseudophakia was present in 10 eyes and myopia ≥-5.0 dioptres in 11 eyes. Visual symptoms were unilateral in 7 patients, bilateral in 2 patients and absent in one patient. RD was macula-on in 15 eyes and macula-off in 5 eyes. Atrophic holes were present in 11 eyes, U-tears in 6 eyes and a combination in 3 eyes. Primary surgery consisted of buckle surgery (11 eyes), vitrectomy (6 eyes) and combines technique (3 eyes). The final anatomical success rate was 100 %. Mean follow-up time was 22.7 ± 4.95 months.
The incidence of bilateral simultaneous RD appears to be very low and surgical success rates are excellent. Bilateral pre-operative dilated fundoscopy is mandatory, as the majority of patients have unilateral symptoms.