The role of phacoemulsification surgery in the incidence rate of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

Purpose: To investigate changes in the incidence rate of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery over time and to determine to what extent these changes can be attributed to pseudophakia.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study was based on national patient registries. The study population comprised individuals at risk of RRD aged 40 years and above from 2006 to 2021 in Denmark. The primary outcome was RRD incidence, and the exposure was phacoemulsification surgery. A chart review was conducted to validate and examine the lens status of the outcome.

Results: The crude and age-adjusted incidence rate of RRD in the Danish population increased significantly during the study period. The largest increase in RRD was seen in phakic RRD (phRRD) (65%), whereas pseudophakic RRD (pRRD) accounted for 35% of the total increase. A chart review revealed that 17% of phRRDs were misclassified as pseudophakic, resulting in pRRD accounting for a total of 45% of the increase in RRD. The prevalence of pseudophakia in Denmark grew significantly for all age groups and for both sexes (p = 10^-6) from 2006 to 2021, but the 1-year incidence of pRRD in the pseudophakic population was constant throughout the entire period.

Conclusion: The incidence rate of RRD is continuing to increase in Denmark. The increase in phRRD remains undetermined, and while the risk of pRRD seemed to be constant during the study period, 45% of the overall increase in RRD could be attributed to the rise of a growing pseudophakic population.