Abstract
Purpose:
The changes in outer retina following retinal detachment have been studied extensively. However, the effect of retinal detachment or retinal reattachment on inner retinal layers needs evaluation. The authors aimed to analyze thickness of inner retinal layers after successful retinal reattachment following scleral buckling surgery (SBS) for macula off retinal detachments (MORD).
Methods:
Both eyes of consecutive patients who underwent successful SBS in one eye for MORD at least 6 months back, were evaluated using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus™-HDOCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany).
Results:
Total 28 eyes of 14 patients were included. 12 patients (85%) were male. Mean age (±SD) was 17.9 (± 6.2) years, ranging from 8-33 years. Mean follow-up period was 7.9 (± 2.8) months, ranging from 6-15 months. 5 patients were classified as fresh MORD according to clinical examination and history. Mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved statistically (p=0.001) from preoperative LogMAR 1.9 (±0.8) to postoperative LogMAR 0.6 (±0.3). Average ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL+IPL) thickness was statistically significantly lower (p<0.001) in operated eye (63.1 ± 17.7 µm) than fellow eye (83.2 ± 4.7 µm). Minimum GCL+IPL thickness was also significantly reduced (p<0.001) in the operated eye (49 ± 25.1 µm) than the fellow eye (77.3 ± 11.3 µm). There was no significant (p=0.4) difference between mean average GCL+IPL thickness of fresh MORD 57.6 (± 22.5) µm and old MORD 66.2 (± 15.2) µm.
Conclusions:
The average and minimum GCL+IPL thickness was noted to be lower in eyes undergoing successful SBS than the fellow eye. No statistical difference could be elicited between mean average GCL+IPL thickness of operated fresh and old MORDs. Further studies with larger number of patients are required to explore the effects of retinal reattachment on inner retinal layers.