Retinal detachments with crescent-shaped retinal breaks in patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND

There has been increasing number of reports of retinal detachments associated with atopic dermatitis. However, little is known about the etiology of these rhegmatogenous detachments. The authors encountered two patients with retinal detachments associated with a crescent-shaped retinal break combined with another break located at or anterior to the ora.

METHODS

Preoperative and intraoperative findings in these cases were evaluated.

RESULTS

In both cases, vitreoretinal adhesions were observed on the anterior and posterior edges of a crescent-shaped retinal break. Vitreous traction between the crescent-shaped retinal break and the break located at or anterior to the ora was also observed. No abnormalities were detected in the choroid in either case. A possible causative factor for the retinal detachments in these patients was the habit of rubbing and slapping their faces, apparently to alleviate extreme itching.

CONCLUSION

Crescent-shaped retinal breaks, which were different from conventional horseshoe tears or atrophic retinal holes, were an interesting and unusual feature of two patients with atopic dermatitis and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. These crescent-shaped retinal breaks may have been caused by ocular contusion.