Retinal microvascular changes in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after pars plana vitrectomy: An OCT-angiography study

Author: Asma Khallouli (Tunisia)

Co-authors: Zeineb Kallel, Racem Choura, Rahma Saidane, Dhouha Gouider, Afef Maalej, Riadh Rannen

Purpose

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a separation of the sensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Pars Plana Vitrectomy (PPV) is the most common surgical approach. Nevertheless, even with successful anatomic repair, functional result shows a wide range of visual outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify vascular factors associated with visual outcome after successful surgery in patients with RRD using OCT-Angiography.

Setting/Venue

Department of Ophthalmology of the Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.

Methods

Fifteen eyes of 15 patients that underwent a three-port 23-gauge PPV for RRD, involving the macula, were enrolled in this study. We used OCT-Angiography (Optovue RTVue XR Avanti, AngioVue) to assess the vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) in all patients four months after PPV. We compared PPV eyes with fellow unaffected eyes. Furthermore, we studied the peripapillay Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (pRNFL) in all subjects.

Results

Four months after surgery, no significant difference was reported in the SCP VD nor in the DCP VD of treated eyes compared to fellow unaffected eyes (all p > 0.05). The pRNFL thickness was significantly lower in PPV eyes compared with fellow eyes (p = 0.003). Final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in eyes with macula-off RRD was not affected by VD in the SCP nor DCP (p = 0.11).

Conlusions

There is no significant retinal microvascular changes in OCT-Angiography after PPV for RRD. Visual outcome after PPV doesn’t seem to be related to the macular vessel density.