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  • How common is it to get retinal detachments in both eyes?


    Question:

    How common is it to get retinal detachments in both eyes? And after they have been fixed, can it happen again? I have a connective tissue disorder.


    Answer:

    As a general rule, retinal detachment occurs in both eyes in about one in ten patients with an initial retinal detachment in one eye. The second detachment in the fellow eye may occur even years later. Patients with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan or Stickler syndromes have a higher rate of bilateral (both eyes) retinal detachment that may exceed 50 percent. Patients with connective tissue disorders should seek expert retinal care and discuss the risks and benefits of prophylactic (preventative) treatment of the fellow eye.


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