diagnosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

An ophthalmic assessment is necessary when a patient presents with symptoms and risk factors suggesting retinal breaks or detachment (1).

The diagnosis of a retinal detachment may require:

  • Direct ophthalmoscopic examination:
    • loss of red reflex (caused by retinal detachment or vitreous haemorrhage)
    • retinal detachments near the macula can be seen
    • detached retina may appear as pale, opaque, and wrinkled with absent normal choroidal pattern
  • Visual acuity testing:
    • should be done before the pupil is dilated
    • reduced acuity is caused by:
      • macular detachment
      • vitreous haemorrhage
  • Relative afferent pupillary defect is seen in extensive retinal detachment

    Due to its narrow field of view a normal examination with direct ophthalmoscopy cannot be used to exclude retinal detachment. Slit lamp or indirect ophthalmoscopy with a consdensing lens should be used to detect retinal breaks in the peripheral retina (1). This will usually require an ophthalmological referral.

Reference:
1. Kang HK, Luff AJ. Management of retinal detachment: a guide for non-ophthalmologists. BMJ. 2008;336(7655):1235-40