Purpose: To assess the frequency of retinal detachment (RD) and associated clinical features in ocular toxoplasmosis.
Methods: A review of the medical records of patients diagnosed with ocular toxoplasmosis and follow-up of 6 months or more was conducted. All patients were seen at the Casey Eye Institute at the Oregon Health & Science University over a 9-year period (2003-2012). Demographic data, presence of RD and/or vitritis, and treatments were reviewed. Main outcome measures were the rate of RD in ocular toxoplasmosis, degree of vision loss, and final anatomical status of the retina. Disease- and treatment-related factors associated with poor visual outcome were also analyzed.
Results: Thirty-five eyes of 28 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis and sufficient follow-up were studied. Median age of patients was 40 years (range, 7-93 years). Median follow-up time was 22.5 months (range, 6-96 months). Four of thirty-five eyes (11.4%) developed RD with a frequency of 0.06 RD events per patient-year of follow-up in this sample in a single center. Of four patients with RD, three underwent pars plana vitrectomy and one underwent laser retinopexy. Two of the 4 patients had recurrent RD requiring scleral buckle. At final follow-up, all patients who underwent surgical repair had attached retinas; however, 3 of 4 patients had severe vision loss (20/200 or worse).
Conclusion: Retinal detachment occurred in 11% of eyes in this study that led to severe vision loss despite successful RD repair.