Changes in retinal vascularization assessed by Optical coherence tomography angiography after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery.

Author: Isabel Bartolomé (Spain)

Co-authors: Elvira Orduna, Ana Boned, Dolores Díaz, Guillermo Pérez, Francisco Javier Ascaso, Isabel Pinilla

Purpose

To study the vascularization of the superficial capillary (SCP) and the deep capillary (DCP) retinal plexuses, as well as choriocapillaris (CC) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) (DRI-Triton SS-OCT) in patients after undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD)

Setting/Venue

OCTA can detect vascular changes in RRD, evaluating retinal capillary plexuses and the CC. Vascular density and FAZ morphology and area are the most investigated OCTA quantitative parameters in other diseases. RRD could modify retinal microvascularization.

Methods

We study 29 patients (29 eyes) that underwent a three port 23-gauge PPV, laser photocoagulation and intraocular SF6 tamponade after macula-off RRD; the contralateral eye was used as the control group. All participants underwent an ophthalmic examination that included refraction, axial length (AL), and 3x3 OCTA using Deep Range Imaging (DRI)-Triton swept source (SS)-OCT. Vascular density was assessed 1 year after surgery.

Results

nineteen of the patients were male and 10 females, 62% of the eyes were left ones. A significant decrease in central DCP flow density (p= 0.01) was observed over 12 months in macula-off RRD eyes with successful surgical repair. No differences were found in SCP and CC plexus flow density compared to fellow eyes. ZAF area was similar in both groups.

Conlusions

The findings of this study suggest that macular microvasculature remains unmodified 1 year after RRD was successfully treated, with no enlargement in the FAZ area. These may indicate that there is a progressive recovery of the retinal vasculature, with no quantitative changes that might suggest ischemic damage in the macular area.

Financial Disclosure

none

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