Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the foveal changes after repair of macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
Methods:
Prospective comparative case series. Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients with macula-off/ fovea-on detachment ( n= 9) and fovea-off detachment (n=15) were studied. Serial optical coherence tomography (OCT) images taken at the same location were recorded at month 1,3,6 and 12 after operation. Fellow eyes were used as controls.
Results:
No significant changes of the central foveal thickness (CFT) were recorded in the fovea-on group over the follow-up. From month 1 to month 12, CFT increased significantly in the fovea-off group (P< 0.001). In this group, a significant increase of the Henle fiber and outer nuclear layer thickness(P=0.004), and of the ellipsoid zone (EZ)-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) thickness (P < 0.001) was recorded. Significant restoration of the integrity of the external limiting membrane in the fovea-off group (P <0.001) and significant restoration of the EZ and cone interdigitation zone in the fovea-on group and the fovea-off group were observed (P <0.02 and P<0.001, and P<0.00 and P<0.001, respectively). Twelve months after operation the foveal bulge restored in 8 out of 15 eyes of the fovea-off group.
Conclusions:
OCT scans taken serially at the same location show a progressive increase of foveal thickness and restoration of the integrity of outer retinal bands after repair of fovea-off RRD. The ELM-RPE thickness correlates with BCVA.