Risk Factors For Posterior Vitreous Detachment: A Case-Control Study

Chuo, Jean Y.; Lee, Tracy Y.Y.; Hollands, Hussein; Morris, Andrew H.; Reyes, Romina C.; Rossiter, Jonathan D.; Meredith, Sarah P.; Maberley, David A.L.

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2006.08.002

« Previous Next »American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 142, Issue 6 , Pages 931-937.e1, December 2006

Risk Factors For Posterior Vitreous Detachment: A Case-Control Study

Jean Y. Chuo, MD
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Inquiries to Jean Y. Chuo, MD, Eye Care Centre, 2550 Willow St.,Vancouver, B.C. Canada, V5Z 3N9
Tracy Y.Y. Lee, MD
- Discipline of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Health Sciences Centre, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Hussein Hollands, MD, MSc (Epid)
- Department of Ophthalmology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Andrew H. Morris, FRCOphth
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit, Dorset, United Kingdom
Romina C. Reyes, MD, MSc (Epid)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Jonathan D. Rossiter, MRCOphth
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit, Dorset, United Kingdom
Sarah P. Meredith, MRCOphth
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit, Dorset, United Kingdom
David A.L. Maberley, MD, FRCSC, MSc (Epid)
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Accepted 1 August 2006. published online 11 September 2006.

Purpose

To identify possible risk factors for the development of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

Design

Retrospective case-control study.

Methods

A total of 138 cases with PVD and 114 age-matched controls were accrued from two different sites. Demographic, medical, ocular, and lifestyle data were obtained through chart review, questionnaires, and clinical examination. A 108-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was also used to estimate macro- and micronutrient intake. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to identify variables significantly associated with the main outcome measure of PVD. Subgroup analysis of gender-specific variables was performed.

Results

Among all patients, multivariate regression analysis demonstrated female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 2.01, P = .016), myopic refraction (OR = 4.32, P < .0005), and higher intake of vitamin B6 (OR = 2.61, P = .001) to be associated with PVD after controlling for age. In the subgroup analysis of women, menopause (OR = 18.2, P < .0005), myopic refraction (OR = 3.42, P = .01), and higher intake of vitamin B6 (OR = 3.92, P = .005) were associated with PVD. Specifically, there was a significant association between vitamin B6 and PVD amongst premenopausal women but not amongst postmenopausal women.

Conclusions

An association between PVD and menopause has not been documented previously. We suspect that high estrogen levels seen in premenopausal women may be protective against PVD and that hormonal changes associated with menopause may lead to changes in the vitreous, predisposing to PVD. Higher levels of intake of vitamin B6 were also associated with the development of PVD in premenopausal women possibly through an anti-estrogen effect. These findings should be investigated further with prospective studies.