Macular choroidal thickness after vitreoretinal surgery: Long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy with and without encircling scleral buckling surgery

Predictors of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Parameters Following Scleral Buckling Surgery in Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Objective: This study aimed to examine predictors of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters following scleral buckling (SB) surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and to determine the influence of the magnitude of change in qualitative and quantitative parameters on RNFL.

Methods: In an observational prospective study, 40 subjects who underwent successful retinal reattachment with SB surgery done within one month of RRD were evaluated for the parameters of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive error, intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle opening distance (AOD 500 and AOD 750), trabecular iris surface area (TISA 500 and TISA 750), visual fields, and ganglion cell count (GCC) and RNFL before and three months after SB. We additionally noted qualitative factors like extent, location, and type of buckle; phakic status; and grade of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in the affected eye. The change in value of quantitative parameters was found. The influence of baseline values and magnitude of change of quantitative and qualitative parameters on average RNFL thickness and magnitude of change of RNFL thickness after SB was found.

Results: Post-SB, average RNFL thickness reduced from 108.58±20.38 microns to 103.73±17.98 microns (p =0.042). The baseline temporal upper (TU), temporal lower (TL), and nasal lower (NL) RNFL thickness (p=0.01, p=0.02, p=0.01, respectively) and total deviation (TD) values of visual fields (p=0.01) correlated positively while baseline GCC gross loss of volume (p=0.01) correlated negatively with post-operative RNFL thickness. The TU, TL, and NL RNFL thickness (p=0.04, p=0.01, p=0.01, respectively) and average GCC (p=0.04) correlated negatively with the magnitude of change in RNFL. The magnitude of change in baseline parameters after surgery was correlated with the magnitude of change in average RNFL thickness. It was noticed that change in AL (p<0.01), TISA 500 (p=0.02), TISA 750 (p<0.01), GCC focal loss of volume (p=0.02), and temporal RNFL thickness (p<0.01) correlated positively while the change in refractive error correlated negatively (p=0.04). Except for the grade of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (p=0.04), none of the qualitative parameters, including extent, type, and location of the buckle; and phakic status, had a significant association with post-operative average RNFL thickness or magnitude of its change.

Conclusions: The predictors of average RNFL thickness following SB include AL; myopic shift; TISA; visual fields TD; average, TU, TL, and NL RNFL thickness; average GCC, gross and focal loss of volume; and grade of PVR. So an early surgery to prevent preoperative ganglion cell and RNFL loss and progression of PVR is recommended.

A pilot study of scleral thickness in central serous chorioretinopathy using anterior segment optical coherence tomography

The aim of this study is to compare the scleral thickness of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) eyes with controls using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS OCT). This prospective case control study included 15 patients (15 eyes) with CSC and 15 age and gender matched healthy subjects. All subjects underwent spectral domain OCT with enhanced depth imaging and swept source AS OCT of temporal sclera. We investigated difference in scleral thickness between the two groups and relationship between choroidal and scleral thickness. Among the 15 eyes in the study group, 1 eye had acute CSC, 4 had recurrent CSC, 7 had inactive CSC, and 3 had chronic CSC. There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender, axial length and spherical equivalent between the two groups. The choroidal and scleral thickness of the study group were significantly greater than those of the control group (P < 0.001, P = 0.034). Choroidal thickness was positively correlated with scleral thickness (P = 0.031). A thick sclera along with a thick choroid were demonstrated in CSC eyes using AS OCT. Scleral characteristics might be involved in the pathogenesis of CSC by affecting outflow resistance of venous drainage in choroidal circulation.