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

To assess the Quality of Life (QoL) and understand the clinical characteristics of patients in Ghana presenting with RRD compared to age-matched controls. 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. 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). 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.