Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in the Macula of Patients Undergoing Pneumatic Retinopexy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To identify postoperative tomographic findings by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients undergoing pneumatic retinopexy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment . Methods: In this prospective study, postoperative optical coherence tomography findings were analyzed in consecutive patients that underwent successful repair of a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment by pneumatic retinopexy. All initial postoperative OCTs were preformed within 1 to 3 weeks after pneumatic retinopexy. Patients also underwent both preoperative and postoperative clinical exams including slit–lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Patients experiencing decreased visual acuity postoperatively underwent subsequent OCTs in post–operative follow–up. Results: Patients presenting with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with macula involved and macula uninvolved were examined. All patients examined showed subretinal fluid by OCT in the immediate postoperative period despite a flat macula on clinical exam. Conclusions: The incidence of subretinal fluid collections in the immediate postoperative period in the macula as identified by OCT may be more prevalent then initially thought in patients undergoing pneumatic retinopexy for retinal detachments.

Keywords: retinal detachment • imaging/image analysis: clinical