Teaching Point (Section Editor: W. Herrington) Exudative detachment as a masquerader in hypoalbuminaemic patients

Retinal detachment (RD) is a serious condition that may lead to permanent loss of vision. Most RDs result from a tear(s) in the retina, through which liquefied vitreous enters the sub-retinal space. Rarely, however, exudative retinal detachment (ERD) occurs due to an underlying ocular or systemic condition that produces excess subretinal fluid in the absence of tears and/or tractional pull [1]. The ERD may go unnoticed especially if the patient is severely ill and may not complain of symptoms like floaters, flashes of light and peripheral visual field defect. Severe visual deficit occurs once the macula is involved in advanced ERD. Hence, a high level of suspicion is mandatory to detect ERD in these renal and gastroenterological conditions. We report a series of three patients who had ERD secondary to underlying systemic disease and interestingly were diagnosed only after blurring of vision occurred as their presenting symptom.