Partial separation of the retina from the back of the eye is a relatively common degenerative condition of the elderly and is more common after cataract surgery.
Relatively minor blunt, or even indirect, trauma to the eye may be a Proximate Cause in the elderly and in those with a predisposition (particularly high myopia1), but the condition may arise spontaneously.
More severe blunt trauma is responsible for the condition in young men.
Retinal detachment (RD) requires urgent, though not emergent, ophthalmic surgery to achieve good visual outcome. If the macula is involved, the best results are obtained if surgery is undertaken within 10 days of detachment2.
Failure to diagnose, delay in diagnosis and negligent treatment of RD are among the commonest Causes of high-award ophthalmic malpractice claims3.
Copyright © 2009 Electronic Handbook of Legal Medicine