Rhematogenous retinal detachment complicated by severe intraocular inflammation, hypotony, and choroidal detachment.

An unusual type of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is described and compared with a control group of patients with detached retina. Features of the condition, in addition to retinal detachment, include severe anterior and posterior uveitis, choroidal detachment, hypotony, deepened anterior chamber, posterior synechiae, iridophakodonesis, and a poor surgical and visual prognosis due to massive periretinal proliferation. The disease occurs in a disproportionately high ratio in blacks. These cases may be mistaken for uveitis, Harada's syndrome, the uveal effusion syndrome, dislocated lens, or malignant melanoma. It is postulated that the detached retina initiates a series of exaggerated pathophysiological changes in the eye, with the severe inflammation leading to choroidal detachment and hypotony. Such eyes are inoperable until the inflammation, hypotony, and choroidal detachment are reversed with corticosteroid treatment. The surgical and visual prognosis is very poor.