Key Takeaways

  • Adults with atopic dermatitis were nearly three times more likely to develop retinal detachment and more than four times more likely to undergo retinal detachment surgery than individuals without the condition
  • Patients with atopic dermatitis who underwent retinal detachment repair experienced higher rates of proliferative vitreoretinopathy
  • The findings suggest that chronic inflammation and behaviors such as frequent eye rubbing may contribute to elevated retinal risks in people with eczema

People living with atopic dermatitis—commonly known as eczema—may face a significantly higher risk of retinal detachment and complications following retinal surgery, according to new research published in Ophthalmology Retina.1

The large US-based study analyzed health records from hundreds of thousands of adults and found that patients with atopic dermatitis were substantially more likely to develop retinal detachment. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California compared adults diagnosed with atopic dermatitis to matched individuals without the condition. After adjusting for demographic and health-related factors, the study included more than 274,000 patients in each group.

Over a 5-year period, 0.7% of patients with atopic dermatitis were diagnosed with retinal detachment, compared with 0.2% of those without the skin disorder. Patients with eczema were nearly three times more likely to develop retinal detachment and more than four times more likely to require surgical repair.

The study also found worse outcomes among eczema patients who underwent retinal detachment surgery. Individuals with atopic dermatitis had higher rates of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Within six months of surgery, 5.9% of eczema patients developed PVR compared with 4.0% of patients without eczema. In addition, complex retinal repair procedures were more common among patients with atopic dermatitis, suggesting that the disease may contribute to more challenging surgical recoveries.

While the study does not prove that eczema directly causes retinal detachment, researchers believe several factors may help explain the association. Chronic inflammation linked to atopic dermatitis could affect retinal tissues and healing processes. Frequent eye rubbing—a common behavior among people with itchy skin around the eyes—has also been identified in previous research as a potential contributor to retinal damage.

“These findings suggest that [atopic dermatitis] may not only predispose individuals to retinal detachment, but may also contribute to worse surgical outcomes,” the authors wrote, noting that the condition may represent an underrecognized risk factor in eye care.

The researchers say additional studies are needed to better understand the biological mechanisms behind the link and to determine whether enhanced eye screening could benefit patients with chronic atopic dermatitis.

Reference

Hong AT, Yiu G, Hwang TS, et al. Association of atopic dermatitis with retinal detachment and postoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy risk. Ophthalmol Retina. 2026;S2468-6530(26)00214-9. Published online May 18, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2026.05.006.