Clinical characteristics and quality of life for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a tertiary centre in Ghana: a case control study

Purpose: To assess the Quality of Life (QoL) and understand the clinical characteristics of patients in Ghana presenting with RRD compared to age-matched controls. Methods: This prospective case-control study included patients presenting with RRD at a tertiary hospital in Ghana between July 2021 and June 2022 compared to age-matched unaffected individuals. QoL was evaluated using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Demographic and clinical characteristics were analysed. Results: Among 180 participants (57 RRD cases, 123 controls), QoL scores ranged 50–70 for RRD patients and 60–90 for controls. The overall composite score of NEI-VFQ-25 in the RRD patients (mean 61; SD 12) was significantly lower than that of controls (mean 78; SD 15), including 8 of 12 QoL subscales (p < 0.001). The lowest subscale scores for RRD cases were vision-specific role difficulties (mean 48; SD 8). Floaters were the most common presenting symptom among RRD cases (75.4% vs. 1.6%) (p < 0.001). RDD patients presented to a primary eye centre after an average 30.8 days (SD = 70.0) and to a tertiary centre after 200.4 days (SD = 306.8). Conclusion: There is a significant reduction in the QoL for RRD patients. Early diagnosis and management of RRD are essential to mitigate the adverse impact on QoL and prevent further complications.