The Association between the Frequency of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment and Atmospheric Temperature

Climate and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Comprehensive Review and Future Research Guidelines

Purpose

Does weather affect the rate of developing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)? This comprehensive review investigates the findings of the most recent studies on the relationship between RRD and climatic or seasonal factors.

Methods

An extensive search across PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases resulted in 112 initial results, from which 18 studies published between 1980 and 2024 were selected. The selection criteria were based on the studies' relevance to our topic. We analyzed their methodology, geographic scope, and key findings. Data extraction encompassed study design, sample size, sex ratio, incidence rates, results, and identified limitations.

Results

Eight studies found no statistically significant relationship between seasonal variations and the incidence of RRD. Conversely, seven studies reported an increased incidence of RRD during the summer months. Additionally, secondary analyses of factors, such as ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, and daylight hours, showed varied and sometimes conflicting results. A summary of common limitations and biases was synthesized into a table, providing guidelines for future research exploring this topic.

Conclusion

This comprehensive review highlights the complex interaction between environmental factors and RRD incidence. The conflicting results across different studies suggest a need for further research in this area. Future studies should address the identified limitations and biases to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between climate and RRD. By utilizing the guidelines from our review, future research could aim to minimize confounding factors and improve the robustness of their findings. Understanding these interactions can be used to develop preventive strategies and enhance clinical practices to reduce the burden of RRD.

Meteorological factors and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in metropolitan France

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a sight-threatening condition with rising global incidence. Identifying factors contributing to seasonal variations in RRD would allow a better understanding of RRD pathophysiology. We therefore performed a retrospective case series study investigating the relationship between RRD occurrence and meteorological factors throughout metropolitan France (the METEO-POC study), particularly the mean temperature over the preceding 10-day period (T-1). Adult patients having undergone RRD surgery and residing in one of the three most populated urban areas of each French region were included (January 2011-December 2018). The study involved 21,166 patients with idiopathic RRD (61.1% males, mean age 59.8-65.1 years). RRD incidence per 100,000 inhabitants increased from 7.79 to 11.81. RRD occurrence was not significantly associated with mean temperature over T-1 in the majority of urban areas (31/36). In a minority of areas (5/36) we observed correlations between RRD incidence and mean temperature over T-1, however these were extremely weak (r = 0.1-0.2; p < 0.05). No associations were found between RRD incidence and secondary outcomes: mean daily temperature over the 10 days prior T-1, minimum/maximum temperatures, rainfall, duration of sunshine, atmospheric pressure, overall radiation, relative humidity, wind speed. Overall, we found no relationships between meteorological parameters and RRD occurrence.

[Methods for predicting the risks of development, course and recurrence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment]

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a severe disease of the visual organ that is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Without surgical treatment, RRD almost always leads to vision loss and blindness. Surgical treatment in the early stages of the disease reduces the risk of blindness. This article analyzes scientific publications reflecting the issues of prognosis and prevention of RRD. Literature analysis showed that there are few prognostic matrices in ophthalmology in general, and specifically related to RRD. Most prognostic matrices for RRD are aimed at preventing its recurrence and predicting the development or progression of peripheral vitreochorioretinal dystrophy in the operated or fellow eye. Building a prognostic matrix for the risk of occurrence and development of such a serious disease as RRD in adults will allow early prediction, enabling surgical treatment in the shortest possible time and positively influencing the functional outcome of treatment.

[Validation of identification criteria for patientshaving surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment at Toulouse University Hospital]

INTRODUCTION

Seasonal variations seem to modify the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), with a summer peak, although the meteorological parameters involved have not been studied in France. In order to conduct a national study evaluating the association between the occurrence of RRD and various climatological variables (METEO-POC study), we need to establish a national cohort of patients having undergone surgery for RRD. The data of the National Health Data System (SNDS) allow the realization of epidemiological studies concerning various pathologies. However, as these databases were initially intended for medical administrative use, the identification of the pathologies coded in these databases must be validated before any use for research purposes. In order to carry out a cohort study using SNDS data, the objective of this study is to validate the identification criteria for patients having undergone RRD surgery at Toulouse University Hospital.

METHODS

We compared the cohort of RRD surgery patients at Toulouse University Hospital from January to December 2017 assembled from SNDS data with the cohort of patients meeting the same selection criteria assembled from Softalmo software data.

RESULTS

With a positive predictive value of 82.0%, a sensitivity of 83.8%, a specificity of 69.9%, and a negative predictive value of 72.5%, we can consider that our eligibility criteria are performing well.

CONCLUSION

Since the selection of patients via SNDS data is reliable at Toulouse University Hospital, we can use it at the national level for the METEO-POC study.

Incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments is increasing in Wenzhou, China

AIM

To estimate and compare the incidence and characteristics of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) in the Wenzhou area in 2015 to 2019.

METHODS

All newly developed RRD cases among residents of the Wenzhou area, from January 2015 to December 2019, were retrospectively retrieved from hospital records. Annual population data were extracted from the Wenzhou Statistical Yearbook.

RESULTS

There were 3629 eligible cases. The average incidence of RRD was 7.79 cases per 100 000 population (95% confidence interval, 7.24-8.34), and the incidences were 7.99 and 7.56 for males and females, respectively. The annual incidence increased gradually from 7.26 cases per 100 000 in 2015 to 10.00 cases per 100 000 in 2019, with an overall increase of 37.74%. The highest rate of increase occurred in the age group from 60 to 69 years. Of 2750 eyes with axial length (AL) data, 1675 (60.91%) had an AL greater than 24 mm.

CONCLUSION

A trend to increasing RRD incidence is observed in the Wenzhou area over the past 5-year period.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on surgical primary retinal detachments

PURPOSE

To describe the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation characteristics, timings and surgical decisions for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

METHODS

Historical cohort including all patients who presented to the Surgical Retina Section at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto), over a 2-year period were recruited and divided in 2 groups: pre-COVID and COVID groups. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was recorded as starting on March 18, 2020, the same day the first pandemic-related lockdown came to effect in Portugal.

RESULTS

This study enrolled four hundred and forty-nine eyes of 443 patients: 272 in the pre-COVID group and 177 in the COVID one. Of the patients, 63.6% were male and the mean±SD age was 63.0±13.2y (range 13 to 92y). Of the eyes, 55.5% (n = 151) presented with macular detachment in the pre-COVID group compared with 66.9% (n = 119) in the COVID group (odds ratio [OR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.86; p=0.016). The time from symptoms onset to hospital admission (p=0.021) and from admission to surgery (p<0.001) was longer in the COVID era. In the COVID period, silicone oil (OR 2.03, 95%CI 1.09-3.79, p=0.025) and C3F8 gas (OR 2.42, 95%CI 1.57-3.71, p<0.001) were used more often. No differences in anatomical success or final visual acuity were found.

CONCLUSIONS

The lockdown due to COVID pandemic affected the epidemiology of RRD. The services must adapt to the novel reality and produce backup plans for similar events. Despite the contingencies, the final results were not different between groups.

Association of meteorological factors with the frequency of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in Japan

This 5-year ecological study assessed the association between meteorological factors and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) frequency in 571 eyes of 543 cases of primary RRD at the Jikei University Kashiwa Hospital, Japan. We examined the monthly and seasonal distributions of RRD frequency using one-way analysis of variance. We then evaluated the relationship between monthly RRD frequency and 36 meteorological parameters using Poisson regression analysis. Furthermore, we developed multivariate regression models to predict the frequency of RRD based on specific meteorological parameters. There were no significant differences in the monthly and seasonal distributions (monthly, P = 0.99; seasonal, P = 0.77). The following eight parameters were associated with a lower RRD frequency: average sea level barometric pressure and average daily variation of average temperature, maximum temperature, maximum wind speed, maximum instantaneous wind speed, humidity, average sea level barometric pressure, and minimum sea level barometric pressure (P < 0.05). The best model to predict RRD frequency showed sufficient validity (Akaike’s information criterion with correction for small sample size = 332.0) and predictive power (proportion of variance explained by cross-validation method = 84.82%, 95% CI 72.18–93.72). In conclusion, low atmospheric pressure and high meteorological stability are significantly associated with a higher frequency of RRD. In addition, the Poisson regression analysis showed sufficient validity and predictability for predicting RRD frequency.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics of retinal detachments: the Canadian experience

OBJECTIVE

To describe the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the characteristics of retinal detachments (RD) at a tertiary centre.

DESIGN

Retrospective consecutive case series.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and ninety eyes of 188 patients with primary, rhegmatogenous RD.

METHODS

Patients with RD who presented over a 1-year period (September 14, 2019 to September 13, 2020). The relationship between demographic, anatomic, and visual acuity parameters were compared before and after onset of the pandemic using generalized estimating equations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Macular status and corrected distance visual acuity on presentation.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-seven eyes, divided into 2 cohorts: pre-COVID (n = 100 September 14, 2019 to March 13, 2020) and post-COVID (n = 87, March 14, 2020 to September 13, 2020). Of the eyes, 63.2% (n = 87) presented with macular detachment in the post-COVID group compared with 45% (n = 100) in the pre-COVID group (odds ration [OR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.19-3.86; p = 0.011). As well, eyes in the pre-pandemic cohort had significantly fewer detached quadrants on initial examination (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.93; p = 0.026). Patients in the post-COVID group had a significantly worse corrected distance visual acuity at baseline (mean difference [MD] = -0.35 logMAR, 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.09; p = 0.008), but not at 1 month or at final follow-up. No differences were seen between groups with respect to demographics, lens status, treatment, time to presentation, or chronicity. Pneumatic retinopexy was the most commonly performed procedure in both cohorts, with a 71.5% success rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Closures after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the characteristics of RDs at presentation with respect to macular detachment, extent of RD, and presenting visual acuity. At final follow-up, final visual acuity and anatomic outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. These data are helpful for future patient education, triaging, and treatment decision making.