Pigmentation and retinal breaks.

Of 260 patients with primary, nontraumatic, rhegmatogenous retinal separation analyzed for the presence of retinal or subretinal pigmentation associated with the retinal breaks, some 48.5% of all patients had significant pigmentary changes, especially occurring with lattice degeneration and nonlattice horseshoe tears. Critical analysis of the age of the patient, type of retinal break, vitreoretinal degeneration, and type and extent of pigmentation is essential before ascribing a protective effect of the pigment in the prevention of subsequent retinal separation.