In Lattice Degeneration, Prophylactic Treatment of Fellow Eye Lowers New Retinal Risks   

Prophylactic treatment (PTx) of fellow eye lattice degeneration (LD) in asymptomatic patients who previously underwent uncomplicated primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair in the first eye may reduce the risk of developing a new retinal tear (RT) or RRD, according to research published in Retina. 

Researchers assessed PTx of lattice degeneration on retinal tear and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment risk in fellow eyes of patients following primary RRD repair in the first eye. The consecutive case series included 498 patients with RRD repair between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. Patients received PTx (n=146; mean age, 53.18 years; 60% male) or no PTx (n=352; mean age, 55.59 years; 65% male) in fellow eye with 5 years follow-up.

The researchers found that the PTx group developed significantly (P <.05) fewer new RT/RRD (17%) compared with the no-PTx group (41%). 

PTx significantly (P <.05) reduced the incidence of new RT/RRD regardless of posterior vitreous detachment and myopia status. 

Patients who received PTx and underwent phacoemulsification had significantly (P < 0.05) less RT/RRD (22%) than the no-PTx group (31%). 

There was no significant (P =.96) difference in final BCVA between PTx (median=0 logMAR) and no-PTx groups (median=0 logMAR). 

“Prophylactic treatment of LD in the fellow eye of asymptomatic patients who have previously undergone uncomplicated primary RRD repair in the first eye appears to be effective in reducing the incidence of new RTs and RRDs that require subsequent intervention,” according to the researchers. “Multiple factors highlighted in our study should be taken into consideration in when attempting to reduce the risk for the fellow eye.”

Study limitations include its retrospective design, the exclusion of patients who had less than 6 months of follow-up, and lack of standardization of both examination and PTx technique across physicians. This study was also limited by only evaluating PTx on lattice degeneration in the fellow eye of asymptomatic patients who previously underwent surgical repair of uncomplicated RRD in the first eye.