The epidemiology and clinical characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a Serbian tertiary health care institution – a two-year-long retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is an ophthalmic emergency which can result in vision loss. The aim of our study was to evaluate the demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics and treatment methods of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery and Eye Trauma in the period between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. The data included sex, age, season, onset of symptoms, presence of myopia, previous cataract surgery, as well as the method of treatment.

Results Out of 275 patients, there were 177 males (64.36%) and 98 females (35.64%). The majority of the study population was 61–80 years old (n = 140, 50.91%). The most commonly selected surgical procedure was pars plana vitrectomy (n = 226, 81.88%). Silicone oil was the preferred tamponade (n = 191, 75.2%). Best-corrected visual acuity on admission was worse than 0.1 in the majority of the affected eyes (n = 177, 64.13%), while one month after surgery nearly half (n = 130, 47.1%) achieved visual acuity between 0.1 and 0.5. Recurrent detachment occurred in 29 patients (10.32%).

Conclusion In conclusion, our study emphasizes that rhegmatogenous retinal detachment primarily affects males and individuals over 60 years of age within our region. Consequently, there is an urgent need to implement targeted public health initiatives to educate high-risk individuals on early symptoms, optimize primary ophthalmic triage, and establish efficient referral pathways to ensure timely surgical intervention and preserve functional vision.

Keywords: rhegmatogenous retinal detachment; pars plana vitrectomy; visual outcomes; epidemiology; Serbia