Peripheral retinal breaks and retinal detachment

Abstract

There is a broad assortment of vitreo-retinal abnormalities which can be encountered in the retinal periphery. They can often be challenging to both diagnose and treat. Both the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Optometric Association (AOA) have developed clinical practice guidelines to assist the clinician in the identification and management of vitreo-retinal disease, peripheral retinal breaks and retinal detachment. These guidelines summarize the prevailing general opinion of the ophthalmic community regarding the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral retinal disease. This article presents a review of these guidelines along with a discussion of the similarities and differences of each and how they can be interpreted and applied clinically.