Diagnostic Considerations

Rhegmatogenous and tractional retinal detachments need to be ruled out.^[1]

Exudative retinal detachments may be caused by inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and other miscellaneous conditions. Inflammatory conditions include Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, scleritis, intermediate uveitis, and sympathetic ophthalmia among others. Infectious conditions include syphilis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and fungal infections among others. Neoplastic conditions include choroidal hemangioma, uveal melanoma, retinal vasoproliferative tumors, choroidal metastasis, and choroidal osteomas among others. Miscellaneous conditions that can cause an exudative retinal detachment include age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, optic pits, uveal effusion syndrome, retinpathy of prematurity, and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy among others.

Differential Diagnoses

Workup

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Media Gallery

An 8-year-old boy with Coats disease. Notice the macular exudation.
An 8-year-old boy with Coats disease. Notice the peripheral vascular dilatations. This patient underwent cryotherapy months before, and the exudative retinal detachment has basically disappeared.

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Author

Lihteh Wu, MD Ophthalmologist, Costa Rica Vitreo and Retina Macular Associates

Lihteh Wu, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Club Jules Gonin, Macula Society, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, Retina Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Bayer; Quantel Medical, Roche; Iveric Bio<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Bayer Health; Quantel Medical, Roche, Iveric Bio.

Coauthor(s)

Dhariana Acón, MD Ophthalmologist, Caja Costarricense Seguro Social, Hospital de Guapiles, Costa Rica

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD Clinical Professor of Health Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steve Charles, MD Founder and CEO of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine

Disclosure: Received royalty and consulting fees for: Alcon Laboratories.

Chief Editor

Inci Irak Dersu, MD, MPH Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine; Attending Physician, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Kings County Hospital, and VA Harbor Health Care System

Inci Irak Dersu, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD Professor of Ophthalmology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine; Chief of Ophthalmology, Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center

V Al Pakalnis, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, South Carolina Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Teodoro Evans, MD Consulting Surgeon, Vitreo-Retinal Section, Clinica de Ojos, Costa Rica

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sections Exudative Retinal Detachment
Overview
Presentation
- History
- Physical
- Causes
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DDx
Workup
Treatment
Follow-up
Questions & Answers
Media Gallery
References

Exudative Retinal Detachment Differential Diagnoses

Diagnostic Considerations

Differential Diagnoses

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

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