Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the peripapillary nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness over time after successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
Methods :
Forty nine eyes, which underwent surgery for primary RRD, were included in the study. Successful retinal repair surgery by pars plana vitrectomy, retinopexy and SF6 gas tamponade or pneumatic retinopexy was done in all eyes. Eyes with known conditions that have impact to the RNFL (e.g. history of glaucoma) or eyes that demanded extensive manipulations during surgery were excluded from the study. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used for the evaluation of the peripapillary RNFL. Values calculated by the device in 6 peripapillary sectors were used. Pre-operative measurements and at 1, 6 and 12 months time post-operative were compared. As study sector of peripapillary RNFL was used the sector that corresponds best to the most severely affected part of the detached retina. Control RNFL sector was the same sector of the fellow eye at each time point as well as the most unaffected sector of the detached eye.. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were also recorded. Twenty seven patients have completed the 12 month follow up .
Results :
27 patients who completed the twelve month follow up were analysed. Peripapillary RNFL values of the 27 affected (detached) eyes were measured in each follow up (at 1, 6 and 12 month post operatively). A statistically significant reduction of RNFL thickness over time was found after comparing values of the most affected sector of the detached eye at 1st, 6th and 12th month post-op. Comparison of the same RNFL sector thickness values of the fellow eye at the same time points did not reveal any change over time. Finally, RNFL thickness values of the most unaffected sector of the detached eye were compared at 1st, 6th and 12th month. A less severe but still statistically significant reduction of thickness was observed in this sector too.
Analysis was performed with one-way Anova
Conclusions :
RNFL values in the sectors related to the detached retina seem to be affected over time despite successful retinal detachment repair. Even after an anatomically successful repair of RRD, changes can be triggered in the retinal tissue including the retinal nerve fibre layer and these changes could be reflected in the peripapillary area.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.