Thinning of Inner Retinal Layers after Vitrectomy with Silicone Oil versus Gas Endotamponade in Eyes with Macula-Off Retinal Detachment

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate retinal layer thickness with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in eyes with macula-off retinal detachment after silicone oil (SiO) or gas endotamponade.

Procedures: Cross-sectional study of 40 eyes with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment that underwent vitrectomy. 20 eyes received SiO tamponade and 20 matched eyes received gas. 33 healthy fellow eyes served as controls. Macular spectral domain OCT was performed with automated layer detection in the 5 inner subfields of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) map.

Results: Comparing the SiO group with the gas group, the ganglion cell layer showed a significant thinning in all fields of the inner ring of the ETDRS map, the inner plexiform layer in the nasal, superior and temporal quadrants, and the outer plexiform layer in the nasal quadrant.

Conclusions: Inner retinal layers in the fovea/parafovea were significantly thinner in the SiO group. Prospective studies are warranted to further elucidate possible retinal adverse effects of SiO tamponade.

Keywords: Optical coherence tomography; Pars plana vitrectomy; Retinal detachment; Retinal layer thickness; Silicone oil tamponade.