Objective:

To characterize the causes of retinal detachment and to determinate the visual outcome in children younger than 18 years old evaluated at San Vicente Fundación Hospital between 2012 and 2017.

Methodology:

We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with a diagnosis of retinal detachment confirmed by ophthalmological examination or ultrasound scan. Patients under 18 years old admitted to San Vicente Fundación Hospital between 2012 and 2017 were included to identify the causes of retinal detachment and the final visual acuity.

Results:

51 clinical histories were analyzed: 28 men and 23 women; 39.1% occurred in children under 1 year old, and no retinal detachment was found above 14 years old. The causes were established as: retinopathy of prematurity 23.5%, ocular trauma 21.6%, retinoblastoma 9.8%, congenital toxoplasmosis 7.8%, toxocara 7.8%, among others. The cause was not found in 3.9% of patients.

In 50 eyes of 41 patients, the final visual acuity was determined, of which 47 (94%) had visual acuity equal or worse to 20/200 and 3 eyes with better corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

Discussion:

Retinal detachment is infrequent in children; however, its causes and outcomes are more devastating than in adults. In our environment, the main causes are retinopathy of prematurity, trauma, retinoblastoma and parasitic infections; unlike adults, children require a more careful assessment and a lower threshold of suspicion to consider life-threatening diseases.

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