Foveal Structure in Macula-off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment after Scleral Buckling or Vitrectomy

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

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate the longitudinal changes observed in the retinal capillaries in eyes with macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to assess the role of these microvascular measures as potential biomarkers of postoperative visual outcomes.

METHODS

This was a prospective, longitudinal study conducted on consecutive patients who underwent 25 G pars plana vitrectomy for primary RRD. The vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), and vessel diameter index (VDI) were assessed in the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses.

RESULTS

Twenty-three eyes with macula-on RRD were included in the study. The mean preoperative VDI, VAD, and VSD of the RRD eye were 18.6 ± 1.1, 0.43 ± 0.02, and 0.17 ± 0.01 in the SCP; and 18.6 ± 0.6, 0.38 ± 0.03, and 0.15 ± 0.01 in the DCP, respectively. At month 6, eight (34.8%) eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR. A preoperative VDI > 17.80, VSD > 0.170, and VDI-change > -0.395 in the SCP; and VDI > 18.11 and VDI change > -0.039 in the DCP were predictors of achieving a BCVA-gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative VDI in SCP and DCP, the preoperative VSD in SCP, and their changes from preoperative values were predictors of visual outcomes. A quantitative OCTA analysis of capillary density and morphology may represent a potential predictive tool for surgical outcomes in RRD. The results reported in this study suggest that OCTA is a useful ancillary test for clinical disease management.

Mean Ocular Perfusion Pressure Effect During Pars Plana Vitrectomy on the Foveal Avascular Zone: A Pilot Study

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of mean ocular perfusion pressure on the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in eyes with successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery. Methods: This prospective pilot fellow eye-controlled study measured the intraoperative mean ocular perfusion pressure in eyes having surgery for rhegmatogenous RD (RRD). Postoperatively, the FAZ area was measured; the change was calculated as the difference in the FAZ area between the operated eye and the contralateral control eye. Results: The study comprised 8 patients with a mean age (±SD) of 53.38 ± 13.92 years. The mean superficial FAZ area was not different between operated eyes and control eyes, while the deep FAZ area was significantly larger in operated eyes. There was a strong negative correlation between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the deep FAZ area (Spearman ρ, -0.73; P = .04); the correlation between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the superficial FAZ area was not significant (Spearman ρ, -0.24; P = .57). A significant linear regression was found between the mean ocular perfusion pressure and the change in the deep FAZ area (R2 = 0.388). The predicted enlargement of the deep FAZ area was 0.03 mm with every 1 mm Hg decrease in the mean ocular perfusion pressure. Conclusions: Lower intraoperative mean ocular perfusion pressure is associated with enlargement of the deep FAZ area in eyes having successful RRD surgery.

Early Structural and Vascular Changes after Within-24 Hours Vitrectomy for Recent Onset Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Treatment: A Pilot Study Comparing Bisected Macula and Not Bisected Macula

Background: In this study we aimed at investigating macular perfusion/anatomical changes in eyes with early onset rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after prompt surgery within 24 hours, comparing a bisected macula and not bisected macula RRD. Methods: In this prospective observational study, 14 eyes of 14 patients who underwent within-24 hours vitreoretinal surgery for early onset RRD were enrolled. Patients were further divided into two subgroups: the not bisected macula group (NBM group) and the bisected macula group (BM group). At baseline and 3-month follow up, macular architecture and vessel analysis were assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging. In detail, quantitative and qualitative analyses of the macular area were performed to quantify topographical retinal perfusion changes after surgery, calculating the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), vessel density (VD) and vessel length density (VLD) at the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). Results: Most cases (43%) were superotemporal RRD. Primary retinal reattachment was obtained in all cases, without recurrences within 3-month follow up. After surgery, a significant FAZ enlargement was observed at both the SCP and DCP level (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), with a significant effect of time noted between the two time points in the NBM and BM subanalysis (F = 3.68; p < 0.017). An excellent functional outcome was maintained for the whole follow-up. On the other hand, after surgery, perfusion parameters did not change significantly apart from the vessel density of the inferior macular sector at the DCP level (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the macular perfusion of eyes with RRD is still preserved if the surgery is performed really promptly, thus highlighting the great importance of a correct timing for surgery. OCTA analysis allows for a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underneath early vascular microarchitecture modifications of the posterior pole in retinal detachment, differentiating the two types of RRD not completely involving the fovea (BM and NBM).

Assessment of Vascular Changes in Patients after Pars Plana Vitrectomy Surgery Due to Macula-Off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the retinal capillary plexuses in patients after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which is used for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). In this study, we included the results of 114 patients who underwent PPV after total retinal detachment (RRD; retinal detachment group). It should be kept in mind that to qualify for the study group, there was a condition that retinal detachment be only present in one eye, allowing the fellow healthy eye to be used for the control group, and the study, therefore, did not include cases where retinal detachment occurred binocularly. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-A images were taken at 9 ± 2 months (median 10 months) after the surgery, with the study conducted in the years 2017–2019. OCT was used to examine the external limiting membrane (ELM), central macular thickness (CMT) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), while OCT-angiography (OCT-A) was used to examine the extent of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in the deep and superficial capillary plexuses. Changes in the FAZ area of the superficial plexus (SCP) between the study and control groups were analyzed over 346 ± 50 days. In our study, we observed changes in the FAZ area between the RRD and control groups in the SCP (203.65 ± 31.69 μm² vs. 215.30 ± 35.82 μm²; p = 0.28733) and DCP (284.79 ± 35.82 µm² vs. 336.84 ± 32.23 µm²; p = 0.00924). Changes in the RNFL thickness between the study and control groups over 346 ± 50 days were as follows: 90.15 μm vs. 82.44 μm; p = 0.19773. Disruption of the external limiting membrane was observed in 78.95% (90 eyes) of the study group. In the control group, it was undamaged, and no integrity disorder was observed. In the RRD, changes occurred in the FAZ of both the SCP and the DCP, which reduced the extent of this zone, an effect that was more pronounced in DCPs. A better understanding of the anatomical and hemodynamic changes taking place in the retina after macula-off RRD might be helpful in answering the question as to why BCVA in these cases is “only” or “as much as” from 0.4 to 0.1, namely, that it might be related to changes in the neurosensory retina after macular peeling.

ASSESSING THE ABILITY OF PREOPERATIVE QUANTITATIVE SPECTRAL-DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY CHARACTERISTICS TO PREDICT VISUAL OUTCOME IN IDIOPATHIC MACULAR HOLE SURGERY

PURPOSE

To determine which spectral domain optical coherence tomography biomarkers of idiopathic macular hole (MH) correlate with the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in anatomically closed MH.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans of 44 patients presenting with MH followed for a mean of 17 months. Widths of MH aperture, base, and ellipsoid zone disruption were calculated from presenting foveal spectral domain optical coherence tomography B-scans. Macular hole base area and ellipsoid zone disruption area were calculated through the custom in-house software.

RESULTS

Poorer postoperative BCVA correlated with increased preoperative choroidal hypertransmission (r = 0.503, P = 0.0005), minimum diameter (r = 0.491, P = 0.0007), and base diameter (r = 0.319, P = 0.0348), but not with preoperative ellipsoid zone width (r = 0.199, P = 0.2001). Applying en-face analysis, the BCVA correlated weakly with preoperative ellipsoid zone loss area (r = 0.380, P = 0.013), but not with preoperative MH base area (r = 0.253, P = 0.1058).

CONCLUSION

Increased MH minimum diameter, base diameter, base area, and choroidal hypertransmission are correlated with a poorer postoperative BCVA. Ellipsoid zone loss measurements were not consistently correlated with a BCVA. Choroidal hypertransmission width may be an easy-to-visualize predictive imaging biomarker in MH surgery.

OCT Angiography Findings in Macula-ON and Macula-OFF Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Prospective Study

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate pre-operative and post-operative retinal vasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients who underwent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery repair. Materials and Methods: A total of 33 eyes were included in this prospective consecutive observational study: 15 affected by macula-ON and 18 by macula-OFF RRD. Superficial (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area variations were evaluated by OCTA and correlated with visual acuity (VA) during a six-month follow-up. Results: In the macula-ON group, the preoperative vascular density (VD) of the whole SCP (wSCP) on affected eyes was lower than that of the fellow eyes (p < 0.05); this difference disappeared at 6 months after surgery (p = 0.88). The wSCP VD and the parafoveal SCP (pfSCP) VD increased during follow-up (p < 0.05); moreover, the higher the preoperative wSCP and pfSCP VD, the better the baseline VA (p < 0.05). In the macula-OFF group, at the first and sixth months after surgery, the larger the FAZ, the lower the VA (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Macula-ON SCP VD affected preoperative VA, and it was lower than the fellow eye, but recovered over time. In the macula-OFF group, a larger FAZ area was related to a worse VA, as is the case in diabetes and in retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Comparison of fundus changes following silicone oil and sterilized air tamponade for macular-on retinal detachment patients

BACKGROUND

To investigate different tamponade effects of intravitreal silicone oil (SO) and sterilized air on macular vasculature and structure after successful retinal repair for macular-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) patients.

METHOD

21 eyes (21 patients) with macular-on RRD underwent single pars plana vitrectomy following intravitreal SO or sterilized air (Gas) tamponade. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and angiography were used to evaluate retinal layer thickness and flow density (FD) changes throughout the observation period of 12 weeks. Retinal layers were segmented into 7 sets: NFL, GCL + IPL, INL, OPL, ONL + IS, OS+RPE and BRM. Macular perfusion system was segmented into superficial and deep capillary plexus flow density (SCPFD, DCPFD), and choriocapillaries plexus flow density (CCPFD).

RESULT

Compared to Gas tamponade, SO tamponade led to more decrease in both superficial and deep retinal blood flow during observation. NFL thickness was found to decrease in both Gas tamponade and SO tamponade eyes. SO tamponade resulted in more pronounced decrease which led to significant intergroup difference. Opposite changing trends were found in GCL + IPL and ONL + IS thicknesses due to different means of tamponade. SO tamponade caused thicknesses of these two segmented layers to decrease, which led to significant intergroup differences. SO tamponade also led to more decrease in INL, OPL thicknesses. No significant intergroup difference of choroidal thickness was observed.

CONCLUSION

Compared to gas, silicone oil could have more negative tamponade effects on both fundus vasculature and structure.

Evaluation of microvascular changes in the macular area of eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment without macular involvement using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography

Purpose

To evaluate microvascular changes in the macular area of eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) without macular involvement (macula-on RRD) using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).

Patients and methods

Five patients with macula-on RRD were eligible for analysis. All patients underwent SS-OCTA examination (Triton) for the macular area. The healthy fellow eyes were included as controls. The vessel density (VD) was calculated using binarization, and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was measured. The VD and FAZ area were compared between the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

The patients’ clinical characteristics were as follows: age, 49.0 years (21.0, 54.0) (median [25, 75th percentile]); preoperative best-corrected visual acuity, −0.08 (−0.08, 0.11) for RRD and −0.08 (−0.08, −0.03) for the fellow eye (P=0.50); and axial length, 27.0 (25.1, 28.7) mm for RRD and 27.4 (25.6, 28.5) mm for the fellow eye (P=0.31). The parafoveal VD was not significantly different between the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes (P=1.00 for the superficial retina and P=0.44 for the whole retina). The FAZ area was also similar for the eyes with RRD and the fellow eyes (P=0.31 for the superficial retina and P=0.13 for the whole retina).

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that the macular microvasculature remains intact in eyes with macula-on RRD.

Ellipsoid Zone Mapping Parameters In Retinal Venous Occlusive Disease With Associated Macular Edema

Purpose

To evaluate the association of baseline ellipsoid zone (EZ) parameters on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as calculated by a semi-automated computer algorithm with baseline visual acuity in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Design

Retrospective consecutive case series.

Subjects

Patients affected by RVO presenting from January 2011 to December 2014.

Methods

Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, and SD-OCT data at presentation were collected. Macular cube scans were exported into a retinal layer analysis software platform and outer retinal parameters were evaluated. Outer retinal/EZ parameters included EZ-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) volume, central foveal EZ-RPE area, EZ-RPE central subfield thickness (CST), and EZ-RPE central foveal thickness (CFT). In addition, en face EZ mapping features were extracted including percent area with EZ attenuation (i.e., EZ-RPE thickness < 20 μm) and percent area with total EZ loss (i.e., EZ-RPE thickness = 0 μm).

Main Outcome Measure

Correlation of EZ parameters and baseline visual acuity (VA). Secondary outcome measures: Correlation of EZ parameters with other clinical characteristics and OCT measures of cube volume, cube average thickness, central subfield thickness.

Results

One hundred and twelve eyes were included in this analysis. Mean baseline VA was 56.53 ±17.68 ETDRS letters and was inversely associated with total EZ loss and EZ-RPE attenuation (r= - 0.33 and -0.38 respectively, p<0.001). VA was directly associated with all other EZ parameters (r=0.37 to 0.45, p<0.001). The presence of subretinal fluid was strongly linked to central parameters of central foveal EZ-RPE, EZ-RPE-CST, and EZ-RPE-CFT (Kruskal-Wallis test). Conventional OCT parameters (central subfield retinal thickness, cube volume and cube average thickness) did not have significant correlations with EZ measures (-0.3<R<0.3 and/or P>0.05).

Conclusion

Baseline EZ integrity is closely linked to presenting visual acuity in eyes with RVO and macular edema. EZ mapping provides an additional metric for evaluating RVO impact on retinal anatomy and potential function.