Assessment of posterior vitreous detachment on enhanced high density line optical coherence tomography

Spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment: A glance at the current literature

Spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common age-related condition in which prevalence tends to increase with age. Acute PVD can cause the onset of symptoms that include visual disturbances, myodesopsia and photopsia. The goal of this short review was to provide a quick glance at the important factors related to PVD based on current literature in this field, which includes incidence, symptoms, diagnosis, risk factors, and education for patients with acute symptoms, and treatments. The take home message is that an ophthalmic examination at the onset of symptoms is of utmost importance, considering that irreversible sight-threatening complications can be prevented if diagnosed and treated promptly.

The Effect of the Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane and Surgically Induced Posterior Vitreous Detachment on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer

Aim

To investigate the changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with surgically induced posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.

Methods

Patients with unilateral ERM with vitreomacular traction were included in this prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical trial. The control group (Group 1) was formed with the nonoperated fellow eyes of the patients, and the study group (Group 2) was formed with the eyes that underwent PPV including idiopathic ERM and ILM peeling. In the preoperative and postoperative periods (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 6^th, and 12^th months), complete ophthalmological examination of the eyes was performed and RNFL measurements were examined in 4 different quadrants (superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal) with the help of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results

There was no statistically significant change in Group 1 during the follow-up period in all quadrants (p > 0.05). The mean RNFL thickness in Group 2 was statistically significantly higher than in Group 1 in superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants (p < 0.01), preoperatively. The mean RNFL in Group 2 was higher in the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 6^th months and lower in the 12^th month in superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants (p < 0.01) when compared to the preoperative period. The mean RNFL thickness in the nasal quadrant in Group 2 was higher in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd (p < 0.01) months, same in the 6^th month (p > 0.05), and lower in the 12^th (p < 0.01) month when compared to the preoperative period.

Conclusion

Idiopathic ERM may cause an increase in RNFL thickness in superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants with possible tractional effect. PPV with PVD induction and ERM and ILM peeling may cause these RNFL changes.