A case of retinal detachment in retinitis pigmentosa

PURPOSE: To report case of retinitis pigmentosa in association with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: An eight year old boy complained of a sudden visual loss. The patient had night blindness, bone spicule-like hyperpigmentation, pale optic disc in both eyes, and the retina was totally detached in the right eye. RESULTS: He was initially treated with conventional scleral buckling surgery, then pars plana vitrectomy with silicone tamponade was performed and retinal reattachment was established. After the phacoemulsification combined with silicone oil removal the final visual acuity of counting fingers was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The association of retinitis pigmentosa and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is uncommon in young patients.