To investigate the risk factors and the factors affecting surgical and visual outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients under 40 years of age.

This retrospective study included 88 patients (96 eyes) diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that were followed up for more than 3 months postoperatively. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to age. The etiologic risk factors and the primary anatomical and functional success rates were analyzed. Preoperative factors that could affect postoperative visual acuity and primary anatomical outcome, such as subretinal strands and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (grade C or worse), were analyzed.

Myopia more severe than -4.0 diopters was the most common predisposing factor in all 3 groups. Anatomical success rates and functional success rates were not significantly different among the groups. Prevalence of macular detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy were highest in group 1. The presence of subretinal strands was highest in group 2 and proliferative vitreoretinopathy was highest in group 1. Patients with preoperative subretinal strands showed a lower primary anatomical success rate in group 1 and poor postoperative visual acuity in groups 1 and 2. Patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy had poor postoperative visual acuity however there was no significant difference in primary anatomical success rate among the groups.

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy did not affect the anatomical success rate but did affect visual outcome in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients under age 40. Subretinal strands contributed to a lower anatomical success rate and poorer visual outcome in such patients that were under age 18.