OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical manifestations of bullous retinal detachment and analyze the etiological factors.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of the clinical data was conducted in 22 patients with multifocal retinal pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE) and big bullous retinal detachment (BBRD), who were admitted between 2003 and 2008 in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center with the diagnoses established by ocular fundus examination, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and/or indocyanine green angiography (ICGA).

RESULTSThe patients included 15 men (68%) and 7 women (32%), with a mean age at the initial visit of 42 years, ranging from 25 to 64 years. Four patients (18%) received previously systemic corticosteroid therapy, and 2 of them used corticosteroids before retina detachment, 1 suffered progression of retinal detachment after corticosteroid therapy, and the other developed retinal detachment in the healthy eye during the therapy. Multifocal bullous retinal detachment was diagnosed as diffuse pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE) in 9 cases. Most of the 13 cases of big bullous retinal detachment had poor vision after operation and laser therapy.

CONCLUSIONBullous retinal detachment occurs most frequently in mid-life and more often in men than women. Abnormal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and hyperpermeability of the choroid vessels are associated with its occurrence. Systemic corticosteroid therapy and mental stress may induce and aggravate this disease. Early medication and laser therapy are effective, and surgical intervention may save only part of the vision in advanced cases.