Retinal Detachment

Key Features

• A retinal detachment may present as an abnormal or absent red reflex

• Older children may complain of decreased vision, flashes, floaters, or visual field defects

• Common causes are trauma and high myopia

• Other causes are retinopathy of prematurity, Marfan syndrome, and Stickler syndrome

Clinical Findings

• Symptoms of detachment are floaters, flashing lights, and loss of visual field

• However, children often cannot appreciate or verbalize their symptoms

• A detachment may not be discovered until the child is referred after failing a vision screening examination, strabismus supervenes, or leukocoria is noted

Diagnosis

• For children with conditions predisposing to retinal detachment, or a strong family history, examinations under anesthesia by an ophthalmologist, with prophylactic laser treatment, may be recommended

Treatment

• Surgery