Macular perfusion changes assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography after vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Purpose: To explore macular perfusion changes in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) involved the macula following successful surgery and to evaluate the correlation between macular blood flow density and visual outcomes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 14 eyes (14 patients) with macular-off RRD that underwent a standard three-port 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and intraocular gas tamponade combined with phacoemulsification, aspiration, and intraocular lens implantation. OCTA was used to evaluate the macular perfusion changes throughout postoperative 12 weeks in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillary plexus (CCP). The fellow unaffected eyes were used as controls for comparison.

Results: A significant increase in the superficial capillary plexus flow density (SCPFD) (P = 0.000) was observed over time in RRD eyes with successful PPV, as well as the deep capillary plexus flow density (DCPFD) (P = 0.000) and the choriocapillary plexus flow density (CCPFD) (P = 0.000). Final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was positively associated with CCPFD (r = - 0.577, P = 0.031) and non-correlated with SCPFD and DCPFD (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Macular perfusion gradually recovered following successful RRD repair by PPV. OCTA provided a non-invasive method to explore the underlying reason for different postoperative visual outcomes in macular-off RRD patients.

Keywords: Choriocapillary plexus; Macular perfusion; Optical coherence tomography angiography; Retinal capillary plexus; Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.