Change in retinal and choroidal microvascular structures after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery and effects on visual recovery

Microvascular changes after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair: A comparative study based on gas tamponade agent

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gas tamponade on microvascular changes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

METHODS

Participants in this study were 48 patients with RRD, who were treated with PPV and gas tamponade without internal limiting membrane peeling. All participants underwent slit-lamp examination, fundoscopy, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography at month 6 postoperatively. The fellow untreated eyes were also examined and served as the control data.

RESULTS

A statistically significant enlargement in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in both the superficial (p = 0.002) and the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.01) was noticed 6 months postoperatively in patients with RRD treated with PPV compared to the fellow eyes. The foveal avascular zone perimeter was increased in the operated eyes in the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.0003) and the foveal avascular zone circularity was decreased in both the superficial (p = 0.045) and the deep capillary plexus (p < 0.001) compared to the fellow eyes. The vessel density was not significantly different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and the deep capillary plexus. The vessel density and the foveal avascular zone parameters were comparable between the C3F8 and SF6 groups.

CONCLUSION

Specific microvascular indices as measured by OCTA were statistically different between the operated and the fellow eyes in the superficial and deep capillary plexus. C3F8 and SF6 as gas tamponades did not seem to differ in their impact on the microvascular parameters.

Quantitative Microvascular Change Analysis Using a Semi-Automated Software in Macula-off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Assessed by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Objective: To analyze the performance of custom semi-automated software for quantitative analysis of retinal capillaries in eyes with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and the role of these microvascular measures as potential biomarkers of postoperative visual outcomes. Methods: A prospective, observational, and single-center study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent 25G pars-plana vitrectomy for primary uncomplicated macula-off RRD. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed in the fellow and RRD eyes before surgery and in months 1, 3, and 6 after surgery. The preoperative values of the fellow eyes were used as surrogates of macula-off ones. The primary endpoints were the mean vessel diameter index (VDI); vessel area density (VAD); and vessel skeleton density (VSD) at month 6. Results: Forty-four eyes (44 patients) were included in the study. Considering the fellow eyes as a surrogate of preoperative values of macula-off eyes, VDI in superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses was significantly reduced at month 6 (p = 0.0087 and p = 0.0402, respectively); whereas VSD in SCP increased significantly from preoperative values (p = 0.0278). OCTA built-in software parameters were significantly reduced from month 1 to month 6 in both SCP and DCP (p values ranged between 0.0235 and <0.0001). At month 6, 25 (56.8%) eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity BCVA ≥ 0.3 (LogMAR). The greater the preoperative BCVA, the greater the probability of achieving good visual outcomes (Odds ratio: 11.06; p = 0.0037). However, none of the OCTA parameters were associated with the probability of achieving a BCVA improvement ≥ 0.3. Conclusions: Quantitative evaluation of capillary density and morphology through OCTA and semi-automated software represents a valuable tool for clinical assessment and managing the disease comprehensively.

Changes in Outcomes of Macular Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Following Surgery for Optic Disc Pit Maculopathy

PURPOSE

we aimed to report on the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) outcomes of eight patients with optic disc pit maculopathy (ODP-M) who were treated with 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

METHODS

We examined sixteen eyes of eight patients-eight eyes with ODP-M and eight healthy fellow eyes. Fundus color photography, fundus autofluorescence, fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCTA were performed. The vascular density, choriocapillaris blood flow (CCBF), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were analyzed using OCTA. Moreover, the correlation between the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular OCTA parameters was assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with the healthy fellow eyes, the eyes with ODP-M preoperatively were found to have decreased BCVA, superficial capillary plexus (SCP) vascular density (i.e., total, foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal), deep capillary plexus (DCP) vascular density (i.e., total, parafoveal, and perifoveal), and CCBF but a significantly increased FAZ (p < 0.05). When the eyes with ODP-M were analyzed pre- and postoperatively at month 12 after surgery, the BCVA, SCP vascular density (i.e., perifoveal), and CCBF had significantly increased, and the FAZ had significantly decreased (p < 0.05). When the eyes with ODP-M were compared with the healthy fellow eyes postoperatively at month 12, the BCVA, SCP, and DCP vascular density parameters had increased, along with CCBF, and the FAZ had decreased in eyes with ODP-M, though not to the levels of the healthy fellow eyes (p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the postoperative BCVA and SCP total vascular density (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The BCVA and macular OCTA parameters improved in eyes with ODP-M at month 12 following surgery. However, the BCVA and OCTA of the eyes operated on did not reach the levels of the healthy fellow eyes, possibly due to impaired choroidal blood flow (CBF) recovery and the presence of a larger FAZ. In summary, OCTA seems to be useful for assessing qualitative and quantitative perioperative microvascular changes.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Macular Perfusion Evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography after Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Surgery

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to investigate macular microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) at one year after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery.

METHODS

We performed a cross-section study including RRD treated by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without scleral buckling and SF6 tamponade. After 12 months, DRI-Triton SS-OCTA was performed. Superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP), choriocapillaris (CC) vessel density (VD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) morphology were analyzed. Results were compared with the unaffected contralateral eye.

RESULTS

Sixty eyes were included. We observed an increase in VD in the central area of both the SCP and DCP in macula-off eyes treated with PPV + SB and in the SCP of macula-off eyes treated with PPV. Macula-off eyes had a diminished VD for both plexuses in the superior quadrant and in the SCP inferior quadrant in those treated with PPV + SB. The CC flow was diminished in the temporal quadrant of macular-off eyes treated with PPV + SB. Healthy eyes presented higher diameter values than macula-off eyes treated with PPV + SB. FAZ horizontal and vertical diameters were smaller in patients with macula-off RRD vs. macula-on RRD and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Macular vascularity remains almost unchanged one year after successful RRD surgery, irrespective of the surgical technique or prior macular status.

Long-Term Macular Vascular Changes after Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Surgery Resolved with Different Tamponade or Different Surgical Techniques

Background: The aim of this study was to assess long-term macular vascular changes and their correlation with functional recovery in patients successfully treated for Macula-ON and Macula-OFF rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: This retrospective observational study included 82 eyes of 82 patients who received primary successful retinal detachment surgery, 33 Macula-ON and 49 Macula-OFF. Superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) were evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and were correlated with visual acuity (VA), surgical technique and tamponade at 12 months after surgery. The fellow eyes were used as controls. Results: At 12-month follow-up, there was a significant decrease in the vessel density (VD) in the SCP in the operated eyes compared to control eyes (p < 0.05) in both the Macula-ON and Macula-OFF groups. Vessel length density (VLD) decrease in SCP was more extended in the Macula-OFF group. No difference in the DCP perfusion parameters was found, compared to controls. Subgroup analysis dependent on the type of surgery or tamponade showed no significant differences of VD and VLD. An inverse correlation was found between the SCP VD and the duration of silicone oil (SO) tamponade (p = 0.039). A significant correlation was observed between parafoveal SCP VD and final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (p = 0.028). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that only the type of tamponade was significantly correlated with the final BCVA in the Macula-ON group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Our study described long-term perfusion changes in RRD after surgery, with lower SCP VD and VLD in the operated eyes compared to the fellow ones, not influenced by type of surgery or tamponade. The choice of tamponade and SO removal timing may affect functional outcomes, especially in Macula-ON RRD. In conclusion, such functional and perfusion changes can be considered biomarkers that highlight the relevance of careful management of this sight-threatening disease.