Risk Factors for Retinal Breaks in Patients with Symptom of Floaters
Apichart Singalavanija MD*, Chutiwan Amornrattanapan MD*, Kanjanee Nitiruangjarus MNs*, Sasima Tongsai MSc*
Affiliation : * Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To identify the risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with the symptom of floaters, and to determine the
association between those risk factors and retinal breaks.
Material and Method: A retrospective analytic study of 184 patients (55 males and 129 females) that included 220 eyes was
conducted. Patient information such as age, symptoms (multiple floaters, flashing), duration of symptom, refractive error,
history of cataract surgery, family history of retinal detachment, and complete eye examination were recorded. The patients
were divided into two groups, the first group (control group) had symptoms of floaters and no retinal breaks, the second
group (retinal breaks group) had symptoms of floaters with retinal breaks. Chi-square test, and the multiple logistic
regression were used for statistical analysis.
Results : Two hundred twenty eyes, 175 eyes of the control group and 45 eyes of the retinal breaks group were examined and
included in this study. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with multiple floaters, and floaters and
flashing increased the risk of retinal breaks to 5.8 and 4.3 times, respectively, when compared to patients with single floater
or floaters alone. Lattice degeneration increased the risk of retinal breaks to 5.9 times when compared to eyes that did not
have lattice degeneration.
Conclusion : Multiple floaters, flashing and lattice degeneration are risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with symptoms
of floaters. Therefore, it is important for the ophthalmologists to be aware of these risk factors and the patients at risk should
have follow-up examinations.
Keywords : Retinal break, Posterior vitreous detachment, Risk factors, Floaters, Flashing
