PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PERIPHERAL RETINAL DEGENERATION IN YOUNG MALES WITH REFRACTIVE ERRORS

Abstract

Purpose – to determine the prevalence, refractive associations, and clinical characteristics of peripheral retinal degeneration (PRD) in young male individuals with refractive errors.

Material and methods
This retrospective analytical study included 649 male participants aged 16-35 years who underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. Refractive error was assessed using cycloplegic refraction, and spherical equivalent (SE) was calculated for each eye. Peripheral retinal findings were documented using dilated fundus examination and classified into predefined morphological subtypes. PRD prevalence was calculated at both patient and eye levels with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Associations were evaluated using χ2 testing and multivariable logistic regression.

Results
Peripheral retinal degeneration was identified in 55 of 649 patients (8.47%; 95% CI: 6.5–10.8). Bilateral involvement was observed in 47.3% of cases. Retinal holes were detected in 12.7% of PRD cases, and one patient (1.8%) presented with PRD. PRD prevalence increased significantly with myopia severity (p = 0.0478). Logistic regression analysis confirmed increasing myopic refractive error as an independent predictor of PRD (OR = 0.905 per 1 D increase; 95% CI: 0.841–0.973; p = 0.0073). Although PRD was more frequent in myopic individuals, degeneration was also identified in non-myopic refractive profiles. Lesion-based analysis demonstrated predominant involvement of the superior temporal quadrant.

Conclusion
Peripheral retinal degeneration is not uncommon in young individuals with refractive errors and is strongly associated with increasing myopia severity, although it may also occur in non-myopic eyes. Systematic peripheral retinal screening is clinically justified, particularly prior to refractive surgery and in individuals exposed to mechanical ocular stress.