IRIS Registry Provides Insight into Hereditary Pediatric Retinal Detachments

A new study harnessing data from the Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) registry provides new insight into pediatric vitreoretinopathy-associated retinal detachments. Peter J. Belin, MD, of VitreoRetinal Surgery, PA in Minneapolis, MN, presented this update as a poster at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2020 Virtual meeting.

Pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachments are uncommon, accounting for between 3% and 13% of all retinal detachment. They can be complicated due to late presentation, association with ocular anomalies, pathology in the fellow eye, and propensity for bilateral presentation. Additionally, 16% to 50% are associated with congenital anomalies such as Stickler or Marfan syndrome.

Previous studies of surgical outcomes in these patients are from single centers and may fail to capture the variability in technique and outcomes.

To better determine the treatment patterns and outcomes of retinal detachments associated with hereditary vitreoretinopathies, Dr. Belin and colleagues conducted a retrospective study looking at 1,930 eyes and 1,586 patients who received care in ophthalmology practices participating in the IRIS registry. They identified cases from 2013 to 2018 using ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes for retinal detachment and either Stickler syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Ehlers Danlos syndrome, or other vitreous abnormalities.

The mean age of individuals was 10.4 years, indicating that retinal detachments occurred at an early age, according to Dr. Belin. In addition, males were affected more frequently than females (42% of population).

There was a high incidence of fellow eye detachment (35%) and a high rate of reoperation (32%). By the end of one-year follow-up, there were 3.8% new diagnoses of glaucoma and 3.2% new diagnoses of aphakia.

This study was designated a “Best Poster” by AAO 2020 Virtual meeting organizers.