Flashes and floaters as predictors of vitreoretinal pathology: is follow-up necessary for posterior vitreous detachment?

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to determine whether patients presenting with an isolated posterior vitreous detachment require follow-up to identify retinal breaks not apparent at presentation and whether some histories are more predictive of associated serious posterior segment pathology.

METHODS

The notes of 295 patients presenting to eye casualty with flashes and/or floaters were reviewed.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-nine patients (64%) had isolated posterior vitreous detachments, 49 (16.6%) had retinal detachments and 31 (10.5%) had flat retinal tears. Three new breaks (3.3% of all tears found, 1.9% of review appointments) were identified only at follow-up. Although a subjective reduction in vision and a history of less than 6 weeks' duration were strongly predictive of retinal breaks, the large group of patients presenting with floaters alone (124/295, 42%) still harboured a significant proportion (26.7%) of the retinal breaks.

CONCLUSIONS

A follow-up visit for patients with an isolated posterior vitreous detachment can be justified to detect the small percentage of asymptomatic retinal breaks. Although a subjective reduction of vision is the symptom most predictive of serious posterior segment pathology, it would be unsafe to identify particular subgroups of patients alone for careful examination.