Effect of silicone oil versus gas tamponade on macular layer microstructure after pars plana vitrectomy for macula on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

PURPOSE

To analyze structural changes in the macular retinal layers and sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in eyes after macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair by pars plana vitrectomy with either silicone oil (SO) or gas tamponade, and the effect of these changes on visual acuity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study which included 26 eyes in the SO Group and 32 in the Gas Group. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the affected eyes were obtained before surgery, and 3 months after PPV in the Gas Group, and during silicone oil in situ and 3 months after SO removal, in the SO Group. Qualitative assessment of photoreceptor layer and foveal contour, along with quantitative assessment of macular retinal thickness and SFCT was performed. Postoperative OCT macular microstructural changes were recorded and correlated to corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured preoperative and at 3 months post operative.

RESULTS

There was a 2-line loss (from 20/28 preoperatively to 20/40 at final follow-up) of CDVA in the SO Group (p=0.051), while there was no statistically significant change in CDVA in the Gas Group (p=0.786). There was no significant correlation between CDVA loss and duration of silicon tamponade (r=-0.031, p=0.893). There was a statistically significant increase in IOP from its baseline to final follow-up of 0.7 mmHg in the SO Group (p=0.023) while there was no statistically significant change in IOP in the Gas Group. During silicone oil tamponade, there was approximately 11% and 5% of retinal and sub-foveal choroidal thinning respectively, which was moderately resolved following silicone oil removal. 20% (5/24) of eyes in the SO Group had qualitative flattening of foveal contour during SO tamponade that resolved after SO removal.

CONCLUSION

Thinning of the macula was noticed after macula-on RRD repair with SO tamponade. Such thinning was only partially reversible after the removal of SO.

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy and its association with altered presentation of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

PURPOSE

Evaluate factors associated with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy and clinical trends in primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) during the first year of vaccine availability.

DESIGN

Single-center, clinical cohort study.

METHODS

Consecutive patients from December 14, 2020, to December 12, 2021, presenting vaccinated (Prior-), subsequently vaccinated (Later-), or remaining unvaccinated (Never-Vax). Primary outcome was proportion with macula-off (mac-off) RRD. Secondary outcomes included logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), primary proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), proportion lost to follow-up, and distance traveled.

RESULTS

1047 patients were divided into 391 Prior-, 252 Later-, and 404 Never-Vax cohorts. Significantly greater proportions of Later- and Never-Vax cohorts presented with mac-off RRDs (Prior-Vax = 44.5%; Later-Vax = 54%, P < .0001; Never-Vax = 57.9%, P < .0001) and primary PVR (Prior-Vax = 4.3%; Later-Vax = 13.6%, P < .0001; Never-Vax = 17.1%, P < .0001) compared to Prior-Vax cohort. Significantly greater proportion of Never-Vax cohort (7.7%, P < .0001) were lost to follow-up compared to Prior- (2.3%) and Later-Vax (2.2%) cohorts. Never-Vax cohort (median = 35 miles) traveled farther compared to Prior- (median = 22.3 miles; P < .0001) and Later-Vax cohorts (25.45 miles; P = .0038). Prior-Vax cohort had significantly better (P < .05) initial (median = 0.30 logMAR) and final (0.18 logMAR) BCVA compared to Later- (Initial: 0.54 logMAR; Final: 0.30 logMAR) and Never-Vax (Initial: 0.70 logMAR; Final: 0.40 logMAR) cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is associated with worse clinical presentation and outcomes for primary RRD.

Outcomes of Eyes Undergoing Multiple Surgical Interventions after Failure of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair

PURPOSE

To assess outcomes among eyes undergoing surgery for recurrent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and investigate variables that correlate with visual and anatomic outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, consecutive case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Eyes in which initial RRD repair failed that underwent ≥2 surgeries for RRD repair between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of eyes that underwent ≥2 RRD repairs. Eyes with etiologies of retinal detachment other than RRD, previous vitreoretinal surgery, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were excluded. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey honestly significant difference testing and multivariate regression analyses were used to assess statistical significance.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Anatomic success rate and habitual best recorded visual acuity (VA) at postoperative time intervals and at final follow-up.

RESULTS

The single-operation success rate (SOSR) among eyes that underwent primary RRD repair over a 5-year period was 92.4% (2021 of 2187 eyes). The remaining 166 eyes (164 patients) in which primary RRD repair failed were included in this study. Although the anatomic success rates after the second and third RRD repairs were lower than the SOSR (71.7% and 68.1%, respectively), the final anatomic success rates did not significantly differ between eyes that underwent ≥2 RRD repairs (range, 90.6%-100%) (P > 0.05), and final anatomic success was achieved in 95.8% of the eyes. The average VA at both postoperative time intervals and final follow-up decreased with an increased total number of RRD repairs. Eyes that received silicone oil endotamponade during the second RRD repair were 20.3% (P = 0.03) and 38.4% (P = 0.04) less likely to require a third RRD repair compared with eyes that received octafluoropropane and sulfur hexafluoride gases, respectively. Eyes that developed a third RRD due to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (n = 43) were 110% more likely to require a fourth RRD repair than eyes that developed a third RRD due to a new tear or failure to reattach (n = 4) (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, the rates of anatomic success appeared consistent after each surgery when multiple reoperations were required for RRD. The VA decreased with an increased total number of RRD repairs, and the endotamponade choice might have affected the risk of additional reoperations. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy was a significant prognostic factor for RRD recurrence.

Trends in the Clinical Presentation of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of 1 full year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on clinical presentation of acute, primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Design

Single-center, retrospective observational cohort study.

Methods

Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: consecutive patients treated for primary RRD during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 9, 2020, to March 7, 2021; pandemic cohort) and patients treated during the corresponding time in previous year (March 11, 2019, to March 8, 2020; control cohort). Main outcome measures: Proportion of patients presenting with macula-involving (mac-off) or macula-sparring (mac-on) RRD.

Results

A total of 952 patients in the pandemic cohort and 872 patients in the control cohort were included. Demographic factors were similar. Compared with the control cohort, a significantly greater number of pandemic cohort patients presented with mac-off RRDs ([60.92%] pandemic, [48.17%] control, P = .0001) and primary proliferative vitreoretinopathy ([15.53%] pandemic, [6.9%] control, P = .0001). Pandemic cohort patients (10.81%) had significantly higher rates of lost to follow-up compared with the control cohort (4.43%; P = .0001). Patients new to our clinic demonstrated a significant increase in mac-off RRDs in the pandemic cohort (65.35%) compared with the control cohort (50.40%; P = .0001). Pandemic cohort patients showed worse median final best-corrected visual acuity (0.30 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) compared with the control cohort (0.18 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution; P = .0001).

Conclusions

Patients with primary RRD during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to have mac-off disease, present with primary proliferative vitreoretinopathy, be lost to follow-up, and have worse final best-corrected visual acuity outcomes.

Functional recovery after macula involving retinal detachment and its correlation with preoperative biomarkers in optical coherence tomography

To introduce an ETDRS grid-based classification for macula involving retinal detachment (MIRD) with or without center (foveal) involvement and to identify biomarkers in preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) associated with a favorable postoperative functional outcome in eyes with center involving retinal detachment (CIRD). One hundred and two eyes of 102 consecutive patients (f/m: 35/67) with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, preoperative evidence of MIRD (perifoveal involvement of ≤ 6.0 mm), and successful retinal surgery were included in this retrospective cohort study. Eyes were assigned to 5 grades of MIRD (G1–G5), based on the extent of detachment in the ETDRS grid. Eyes with a detached foveal status (CIRD) were assigned to G4 or G5. In CIRD, the following OCT biomarkers were quantified and correlated with mean BCVA (logMAR) at 3 months postsurgery, using univariate and multivariable regression models: grade of detachment, extent of intraretinal edema, height of foveal detachment, subretinal folds, and epiretinal membrane. Forty-one of 102 eyes (40.2%) presented with an attached foveal status, defined as either outer (G1: 11.8%) or inner (G2: 18.6%) macular involvement or fovea-threatening MIRD (G3: 9.8%). Sixty-one eyes (59.8%) showed CIRD (G4 or G5). Eyes with CIRD had significantly worse postoperative BCVA than eyes without foveal involvement (0.355 logMAR vs. 0.138 logMAR, p<0.001). If CIRD was limited to three outer ETDRS quadrants (G4), mean BCVA was better compared to CIRD involving all four ETDRS quadrants (G5) (0.254 logMAR vs. 0.522 logMAR, p<0.001). Reading ability (BCVA ≤ 0.4 logMAR) was restored in 97.6% of eyes with G1–G3 compared to 86.9% of eyes with G4 (p=0.072) and 52.4% of eyes with G5 (p<0.001). In multivariable regression analysis of eyes with CIRD, a lower grade of detachment (G4 vs. G5: p<0.05) and lower extent of cystoid edema (focal/none vs. wide: p<0.001) were both associated with better postoperative function. The functional outcome after MIRD may be worse in the presence of foveal involvement (CIRD), but a lower grade of detachment and the absence of intraretinal edema can predict a good recovery in spite of CIRD.

Anatomical and Visual Outcomes of Scleral Buckling Surgery in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the short anatomical and visual outcomes of scleral buckling surgery in relation to the pattern of presentation of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in the presence of different situations and risk factors.

METHODS:

A total of 206 eyes of 203 patients who underwent scleral buckling surgery for RRD were evaluated in this retrospective study. Information retrieved included patient demographics, duration of symptoms, and presenting vision, lens status, site of a retinal break, extent of retinal detachment, the involvement of the fellow eye, macular involvement, presence of lattice degeneration, and associated refractive errors. Postoperative retinal reattachment, postoperative visual acuity, the need for further surgical intervention, intraoperative, and postoperative complications were also evaluated. Proportions and percentages were used to analyze data.

RESULTS:

Primary anatomical reattachment was seen in 172 eyes (83.5%) after the complete resolution of the tamponade used. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 2.81 logarithms of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMar) preoperatively to 1.21 LogMar postoperatively, the most important factors that appeared statistically significantly affecting the anatomic and visual outcome were the duration of macular detachment (P = 0.036), the status of the lens; phakic eyes gave better visual outcome than aphakic and pseudophakic eyes (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Scleral buckling procedure showed high structural and visual success rates, improvement of visual acuity was found to correlate well with the shorter duration of macular detachment and pseudophakic eyes. We believe that scleral buckling, when done appropriately in the appropriate cases, gives the maximum visual outcome with the least cost and need for consecutive procedures.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: primary reattachment rates and visual outcomes over a 4-year period

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To describe rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery in a Dublin tertiary referral centre over a 4-year period and to examine factors predictive of surgical and anatomical success.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed by reviewing the surgical log and the charts of patients who underwent a primary retinal detachment repair in a specialist centre over a 4-year period between 2012 and 2015. We excluded exudative and tractional cases. Multiple parameters were recorded including macular status, visual acuity, type of procedure, complications and visual and anatomical outcomes at 6 months post operation. Primary reattachment rate was calculated alongside change in visual acuity. Chi-square testing and analysis of variance were utilized to determine the effect which lens status, macular status, extent of breaks and type of procedure had on outcome and visual success.

RESULTS

A total of 613 primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repairs were performed over the 4-year period. Our primary reattachment rate was calculated to be 88.58% (annual range 85.25-91.30%) with a perioperative complication rate of 2.94%. We noted a statistical significant improvement in VA with a median logMAR VA of 1.0 at presentation to 0.5 at 6 months post procedure. Macular status (chi-square test p = 0.15, X² = 2.072) and lens status (chi-square test p = 0.2974, X² = 1.086) had no statistical effect on the final anatomical outcome. However, eyes with giant retinal tears were more likely to redetach than those without (chi-square test p = 0.0069, X² = 7.3). There was no statistical significant difference in the proportion of eyes achieving visual success by surgery category (one-way ANOVA analysis p = 0.501).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study of its kind in Ireland and will help surgeons benchmark their results against international standards in the future. Accurate recording of logMAR acuity and intraoperative complications is imperative to assist with prospective studies.

Gas Tamponade for Retinectomy in PVR-Related Retinal Detachments: A Retrospective Study

Introduction

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional results in patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) treated with retinectomy and perfluoro-octane gas (C₃F₈) as a tamponade agent.

Methods

12 patients with inferior and anterior complicated PVR-related retinal detachment, who were treated with retinectomy, where C₃F₈ was used as the tamponade agent were examined. Primary outcome was the anatomical success, while visual acuity, existence of an epiretinal membrane (ERM) and intraocular pressure (IOP) postoperatively were secondary outcomes.

Results

The primary success rate was 75% (mean follow-up of 9.8 months). Reoperation was needed on 25% of patients after the retinectomy procedure. Preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was poor due to macular involvement in all cases. BCVA was improved in three patients (25%), remained stable in 25% and deteriorated in 16.7%. Two patients were lost during the follow-up period. Postoperative ERM formation was noted in 33.3% of patients. One patient developed hypotony, while no other complications were observed.

Conclusion

Retinectomy with C₃F₈ as the tamponade agent provides anatomical and functional restoration at a 75% primary success rate in PVR-related retinal detachment.