Background: The goal of this study was to investigate macular microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) at one year after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery.
Methods: We performed a cross-section study including RRD treated by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without scleral buckling and SF6 tamponade. After 12 months, DRI-Triton SS-OCTA was performed. Superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP), choriocapillaris (CC) vessel density (VD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) morphology were analyzed. Results were compared with the unaffected contralateral eye.
Results: Sixty eyes were included. We observed an increase in VD in the central area of both the SCP and DCP in macula-off eyes treated with PPV + SB and in the SCP of macula-off eyes treated with PPV. Macula-off eyes had a diminished VD for both plexuses in the superior quadrant and in the SCP inferior quadrant in those treated with PPV + SB. The CC flow was diminished in the temporal quadrant of macular-off eyes treated with PPV + SB. Healthy eyes presented higher diameter values than macula-off eyes treated with PPV + SB. FAZ horizontal and vertical diameters were smaller in patients with macula-off RRD vs. macula-on RRD and control groups.
Conclusion: Macular vascularity remains almost unchanged one year after successful RRD surgery, irrespective of the surgical technique or prior macular status.
Keywords: choriocapillaris; deep capillary plexus; foveal avascular zone; microvascular changes; optical coherence tomography angiography; pars plana vitrectomy; rhegmatogenous retinal detachment; superficial capillary plexus; vessel density.