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Lattice Degeneration is a condition where areas of the peripheral retina become abnormally thin. While it sounds alarming, it is found in millions of healthy people. The primary goal of retinal screening is to distinguish "stable lattice" from "at-risk lattice" that could lead to a giant retinal tear or detachment.
read more about lattice degeneration tears ...Epidemiological data shows that Lattice Degeneration is found in 8 to 10 percent of the general population. It is most frequently found in nearsighted individuals (myopes), with prevalence reaching 30 percent in patients with a prescription over -6.00D. Despite this, statistics show that 99 percent of people with lattice will never experience a complication.
The risk of a retinal tear or detachment in an eye with lattice degeneration is low, estimated at approximately 1 percent over a lifetime. However, data reveals that lattice is responsible for 30 percent of all rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, making it a primary source of retinal emergencies on a population-wide level.
A "Giant" Retinal Tear (GRT) is a tear extending over 90 degrees of the eye's circumference. While exceptionally rare, 15 percent of giant retinal tears occur in areas previously identified as having lattice degeneration. Statistics indicate that tractional tears at the edge of the lattice are the primary risk for a giant tear.
If a patient has had a retinal detachment in one eye due to lattice, the risk for the other eye is significant. Data indicates that 20 to 35 percent of these patients will develop a tear in the other eye within 5 years. This high-risk status is why protocols recommend prophylactic laser for the second eye in 40 percent of these cases.
Prophylactic laser treatment aims to "weld" the retina down around a high-risk patch of lattice. Success rates show that laser treatment reduces the risk of detachment from 10 percent down to less than 2 percent in high-risk eyes. However, because the risk is generally low, only 5 percent of total lattice patients actually require this procedure.
No. 99% of people with lattice degeneration have no symptoms and never lose any vision. It is simply a "thin spot" in your peripheral retina that you were likely born with. As long as you have an annual dilated exam, your risk of permanent vision loss is extremely low.
In most cases, yes. High-impact contact sports (like boxing) are the only major concern because a blow to the head could cause a tear in a thin spot. Normal activities like running, weightlifting, and swimming are perfectly safe and do not increase the risk of a retinal tear.
The most important thing is to watch for a sudden change in your vision. This includes seeing "flashing lights" (like lightning bolts) even in a dark room, or a sudden "curtain" of new floaters. These symptoms have a 50% correlation with an active retinal tear, and you should see an eye doctor within 24 hours.
Schedule a dilated retinal exam every year if you have been told you have lattice degeneration or if you are highly nearsighted (>-6.00D). See a retina specialist immediately if you notice a "shimmering" arc of light in your peripheral vision or if part of your vision seems "missing" or shadowed, as these are clinical markers of a developing giant retinal tear.