PREVALENCE STUDY OF POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT AND IMPLICATIONS ON RETINAL TEARS

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and investigate its association with retinal tears in a cohort of 120 patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional prevalence study included 120 patients aged 18 years and older, recruited from an outpatient retina and vitreous clinic. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Data on PVD and retinal tears were collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests for categorical variables. Results: The prevalence of PVD in the cohort was 58.33%, with 70 patients showing signs of PVD. A significant association was found between PVD and retinal tears (p = 0.03), with 14.29% of patients with PVD having retinal tears compared to only 4.00% of those without PVD. Single retinal tears were more common (66.67%), and tears were primarily located in the superior retina (41.67%). OCT was highly effective in diagnosing both PVD (58.33%) and retinal tears (5.00%), outperforming B-scan ultrasound. Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of PVD, particularly in older populations, and the significant association between PVD and retinal tears. Early detection using OCT and regular monitoring are essential for preventing retinal complications such as retinal detachment, especially in high-risk groups.