Assessment of Microvascular Changes After Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair Using Wide-Field Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

Background and Objective: Our objective was to evaluate retinal microvascular changes and visual outcomes following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair using wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA). Patients and Methods: The study included 116 eyes of 111 patients with macula-off ( n = 68) or macula-on ( n = 48) RRD treated with a single successful procedure, 79 fellow eyes, and 183 eyes of control patients imaged with WF SS-OCTA (3 ×3, 6 ×6, and 12 ×12 mm images). Mixed-effects multiple linear regression models were used for statistical analysis. Results: Vessel density (VD) and vessel skeletonized density (VSD) of the superficial capillary plexus (3 ×3 mm scans) and full-thickness retina (12 ×12 mm) were significantly reduced in RRD eyes compared to fellow and control eyes. Decreased VSD and VD in all layers (3 ×3 mm and 6 ×6 mm) were significantly associated with greater preoperative extent of retinal detachment ( P < 0.05) and poorer postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in RRD eyes ( P < 0.05). Macula-off status was associated with increased foveal avascular zone irregularity (12 ×12 mm, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Decreased VD on WF SS-OCTA is associated with poorer postoperative BCVA following RRD repair. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:310–317.]