Abstract:
Purpose: The incidence of retinal detachment in Blacks is generally considered to be low though there are few
supporting studies in Africa. This study, thus, aimed at describing the clinical profile of patients with retinal
detachment in Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A hospital-based study was done on all consecutive retinal detachment patients who presented to Jimma
University Hospital over six months period. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’
sociodemographic characteristics and clinical history. Comprehensive anterior and posterior segment eye
examinations were done and risk factors were sought for. Statistical tests were considered significant if P < 0.05.
Results: A total of 94 eyes of 80 patients (1.5%) had retinal detachment (RD) and about 69% of patients were
symptomatic for over a month before presentation. The mean age was 41.4 years (SD ±16.5). Fourteen patients
(17.5%) had bilateral RD. At presentation, 61 eyes (64.9%) were blind from RD and 11 (13.8%) patients were
bilaterally blind from RD. Rhegmatogenous RD was seen in 55 eyes (58.5%) and tractional RD in 22 eyes (23.4%).
The most common risk factors were ocular trauma (32 eyes, 34.0%), myopia (23 eyes, 24.5%), posterior uveitis (13
eyes, 13.8%) and diabetic retinopathy (9 eyes, 9.6%). Most retinal breaks (25 eyes, 43.1%) were superotemporal
and horse-shoe tear was the most common (19 eyes, 20.2%). Macula was off in 77 eyes (81.9%) and 38 eyes
(69.1% of RRD eyes) had grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Macular status was significantly associated
with PVR (P=0.011), and duration of symptoms (RR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.059-1.475, P=0.040).
Conclusions: A significant numbers of patients with ocular problem had retinal detachment, and nearly two third of
the patients presented late. Trauma and myopia were the most important risk factors. People should be educated to
improve their health seeking behavior and use eye safety precautions to prevent ocular trauma
