SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE INCIDENCE OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT WORLDWIDE: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To assess the variability in the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) across seasons.

METHODS

The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022378855), and the study was conducted in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines. A detailed search was conducted of Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL. Two independent reviewers (P.M.F., M.I.) performed the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment.

RESULTS

The 18 included studies identified 384,723 cases of RRD across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. 12/18 (66%) included studies including 366,219 cases (95%) observed a seasonal variation in the incidence of RRD, with higher numbers of cases in summer and spring. Of all meteorological variables, low atmospheric pressure and high solar radiation may be associated with higher RRD incidence.

CONCLUSION

Epidemiologic studies suggest a seasonal variation in RRD incidence, with more cases observed during spring and summer months. This observation may correlate with periods of elevated solar radiation and reduced atmospheric pressure. These associations do not imply causation. Large population-based studies are required to verify the associations identified in the present systematic review.