Patients with inherited retinal diseases face elevated risk of multiple ocular complications
Key Takeaways
- Patients with inherited retinal diseases had increased risk of cataracts, retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema, and other ocular complications compared with matched controls.
- Elevated rates of nystagmus, color blindness, and legal blindness were observed in the inherited retinal disease population across multiple follow-up periods.
Patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) were found to have significantly higher rates of several co-occurring ocular conditions compared with matched controls from the general population, according to a study.
Researchers evaluated patients with at least two IRD ICD-10 codes and compared them with controls who had documented eye exams, using 1:1 propensity matching based on demographics and systemic conditions.
Within 3 years of follow-up, patients with IRDs had a higher risk of several anterior and posterior segment eye conditions compared with matched controls. These included cataracts and lens dislocation, as well as retinal detachment, retinoschisis, and cystoid macular edema.
Neurologic and visual function-related conditions were also more common among IRD patients. Nystagmus carried an RR of 9.22, color blindness an RR of 13.29, and legal blindness an RR of 52.15.
Five- and seven-year analyses demonstrated similar patterns.
Reference
Abbass NJ, Regueiro M, Kaelber DC, et al. Risk of Ocular Comorbidities in Patients With Inherited Retinal Diseases. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2026 May 21:1-6. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20260323-02. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42165515.
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