To identify the risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with symptoms of floaters and to determine the associations between those risk factors and retinal breaks.

A retrospective chart review of patients who visited with the symptom of vitreous floaters between July 2012 and October 2012 was performed. Patient information, such as age, sex, symptoms (e.g., multiple floaters and flashing), duration of symptoms, refractive error, and complete eye examination were recorded. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the control group had symptoms of floaters with no retinal breaks and the retinal breaks group had symptoms of floaters with retinal breaks. The chi-square test and univariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

A total of 1744 eyes were examined in this study, including 1706 eyes in the control group and 38 eyes in the retinal breaks group. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with high myopia and multiple floaters showed increased risk of retinal breaks by 3.4 and 4.4 times, respectively, when compared to patients with a single floater alone. Lattice degeneration and vitreous or retinal hemorrhage increased the risk of retinal breaks by 10.8 and 37.5 times when compared to eyes that did not have lattice degeneration or vitreous or retinal hemorrhage. During the follow-up period after laser photocoagulation, a new retinal tear was found in 2 patients (2/38, 5.3%).

Vitreous or retinal hemorrhage, lattice degeneration, multiple floaters, and high myopia are risk factors of retinal breaks in patients with the symptom of floaters. Therefore, it is important for ophthalmologists to be aware of these risk factors and the patients at risk should be encouraged to attend follow-up examinations.