Occurrence Rate of Retinoschisis
The occurrence rate of retinoschisis is not directly reported in the available evidence, but retinal detachment—which can occur as a complication of retinoschisis—has an annual incidence of approximately 10 to 18 per 100,000 persons. 1
Epidemiologic Data on Retinal Detachment
The most robust epidemiologic data comes from recent population-based studies:
- Annual incidence ranges from 10 to 18 per 100,000 persons in the general population 1, 2
- A 2020 study from the Netherlands reported an annual incidence of 18 per 100,000 people (95% CI, 11–19) 1
- Peak incidence occurs between ages 55-59 years at 53 per 100,000 people (95% CI, 29–57) 1
- German data reports approximately 1 in 10,000 persons per year, corresponding to about 8,000 new cases annually in Germany 3, 4
Bilateral Disease Rates
- Bilateral retinal detachment occurs in 1.7% of cases according to recent Dutch data 1
- Older population-based studies from Sweden reported bilaterality in 11.2% of cases 2
Associated Risk Factors That Increase Occurrence
Myopia
- More than half of nontraumatic retinal detachments occur in myopic eyes 1
- Low myopia (1-3 diopters) carries a fourfold increased risk 1
- In high myopia (>-8.25 D), the incidence of retinal detachment with macular holes reaches 97.6% 5
Lattice Degeneration
- Lattice degeneration is present in 6-8% of the general population 1
- Approximately 20-30% of patients with retinal detachment have lattice degeneration 1
Post-Cataract Surgery
- Overall risk of retinal detachment after cataract surgery is approximately 1% 1
- 20-40% of all retinal detachments occur in eyes that have had cataract surgery 1
- 34% of retinal detachment eyes had prior cataract surgery in the Dutch study 1
Trauma
- 10% of retinal detachments are associated with ocular trauma 1
Clinical Implications
The critical distinction is that retinoschisis itself (splitting of retinal layers) is different from retinal detachment, though both can coexist. Small asymptomatic peripheral retinal detachments occurring secondary to retinal holes in areas of lattice degeneration are termed subclinical detachments and have a low likelihood of progression in most patients 1. In a long-term study of 423 eyes with lattice degeneration followed for nearly 11 years, clinical retinal detachments developed in only 3 eyes (0.7%) 1.
New retinal breaks develop in 10-16% of patients during long-term follow-up, particularly in pseudophakic patients 6, 7.