The incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in The Netherlands

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence and characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in The Netherlands in 2009.

DESIGN: Retrospective, observational case series.

PARTICIPANTS: All patients with RRD in the Dutch population in 2009.

METHODS: By reviewing surgical logs, cases of primary RRD repair in 2009 were identified. Exclusion criteria included RRD before 2009 and exudative, tractional, or traumatic retinal detachments. Patient demographics, date of surgery, and lens status were documented. Incidence of RRD and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated based on the Poisson distribution. Age distribution, male-to-female ratio, and proportion of RRD patients with prior cataract extraction (CE) were determined. A Student t test was used to examine differences in the incidence of RRD between groups.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Annual RRD incidence in the population and per gender-adjusted age category and proportion of RRD patients with prior CE.

RESULTS: The annual RRD incidence was 18.2 per 100 000 people (95% CI, 11.4-18.8), with a peak incidence of 52.5 per 100 000 people (95% CI, 29.4-56.8) between 55 and 59 years of age. The Bilateral RRD rate was 1.67%. Macula-off presentation occurred in 54.5% of all RRD patients. Prior CE was noted in 33.5% of RRD eyes. The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1, and RRD incidence was statistically significantly more frequent in males (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is predominantly a disease of the population older than 50 years, and males are more susceptible to RRD. The annual RRD incidence is highly dependent on demographic characteristics.