Clinical features of retinal detachment in the elderly.

We conducted a retrospective study of 636 eyes (624 patients, aged 65 years or more) to identify the clinical features of nontraumatic retinal detachment in the elderly. The incidence of retinal detachment due to a macular hole in our series (21%) was much higher than those described in previous reports, suggesting a racial difference between Japanese and Caucasian patients. Tractional tear was seen more commonly in patients of less advanced age. In addition, in our series of elderly patients, we demonstrated (1) a preponderance of retinal breaks in the upper temporal quadrant, (2) a high incidence of aphakic retinal detachment, (3) a preponderance of females to be affected and (4) broad detachment of the retina that involved the macula.