Structural and functional analysis of multiple subretinal fluid blebs after successful surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Introduction: This retrospective study investigated the clinical characteristics of multiple subretinal fluid blebs (MSFBs) after successful surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), and explored the association between MSFB with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and metamorphopsia. Methods: The study comprised 206 patients after successful surgery for RRD, with 58 and 148 eyes undergoing, respectively, scleral buckling (SB) and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). The clinical characteristics of MSFBs were analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The choroidal vessels in some cases were evaluated with OCT angiography. M-charts were used to determine the metamorphopsia. Results: MSFBs occurred in 17 (29.3%) and 8 (5.4%) eyes given SB and PPV, respectively. MSFBs appeared 5.6 ± 5.5 weeks after surgery and required 34.9 ± 13.8 weeks to disappear. Disrupted external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone could still be seen in 83.3% and 66.7% of the patients 12 months after surgery; these rates were significantly higher than those of patients without MSFBs (P = 0.047, 0.022, respectively). Twelve months post-surgery, BCVA and metamorphopsia scores of the patients with MSFBs were statistically comparable to those of the controls. Conclusions: MSFBs occur more commonly after SB than PPV. MSFBs may delay the recovery of the outer retina structure, but do not affect postoperative BCVA and metamorphopsia.