The risk profile of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment before and after using a fluoroquinolone: A 12 year nationwide self-controlled case series study

Objectives To determine whether or not fluoroquinolone use increases the incidence of retinal detachment. Design Self-controlled case series analysis. Participants Participants were identified using the South Korean National Health Insurance Database between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2015. A total of 15€ 134 patients who experienced rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with at least one prescription of a fluoroquinolone were included. Methods Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and their 95% CIs were calculated using conditional Poisson regression. The main outcome measure was a recorded diagnosis of RRD (ICD-10: H33.0) with a claim for the surgical code for RRD. Results We found an increased risk of retinal detachment in the first 1-30 days following the initiation of fluoroquinolone therapy (IRR 1.85; 95% CI 1.71-1.95), which rose for the 31-60 days period (IRR 2.05; 95% CI 1.43-2.95) but remained constant after more than 60 days (IRR 1.25; 95% CI 0.75-2.10). However, the elevated risk was also found in the 1-30 day period prior to the initiation of fluoroquinolone therapy (IRR 1.58; 95% CI 1.49-1.68) and also 31-60 days before medication use (IRR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03-1.19). Conclusions Our case-based study indicated that the risk after fluoroquinolone exposure doubled; however, the risk profile before and after fluoroquinolone use means that the association between fluoroquinolone use and retinal detachment might not be a causal relationship.