Objective: To discuss the influence of retinal detachment (RD) surgery on the blood flow of retina and optic nerve head.
Methods: Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF) was used to measure the blood flow of retina and optic nerve head in 62 eyes of 62 patients with postoperative rhegmatogenous RD surgery, including 34 eyes having undertaken vitreoretinal (VR) surgery and 28 eyes, scleral buckling (SB) surgery. Operative methods included scleral encircling procedure, cryotherapy, lensectomy, vitrectomy, perfluorodeclin liquid application, endolaser and C(2)F(6) gas or silicone oil tamponade.
Results: The blood flow volume (VOL), blood flow velocity (FLW) and the erythrocyte flow velocity (VEL) of fundus in the postoperative RD eyes were reduced in the comparison with those of the fellow control eyes. The VEL of temporal and nasal papillary disk rim had significant differences (P < 0.05). The VOL, FLW and VEL of the papillary vessel, VOL and FLW of temporal and nasal papillary disk rim, VOL of temporal and nasal juxtapapillary retina in the operative eyes were lower than those of the fellow eyes (P < 0.01). In the comparison between the eyes having undertaken VR surgery and the eyes undertaken SB surgery, the VOL, FLW and VEL of VR surgery were reduced more than those of SB surgery. The VEL of temporal and nasal papillary disk rim and nasal juxtapapillary retina and FLW of temporal juxtapapillary retina had significant differences (P < 0.05). VOL, FLW and VEL of silicone oil tamponade eyes were reduced more than those in the operative eyes without silicone oil tamponade. VOL of nasal papillary disk rim and juxtapapillary retina had significant differences (P < 0.05). VOL and VEL of temporal papillary disk rim, VOL of temporal juxtapapillary retina had very significant differences (P < 0.01).
Conclusions: VR surgery and SB surgery of RD influence papillary and retinal VOL, FLW, VEL. The influence of VR surgery on the fundus blood flow is more significant than that of SB surgery. The silicone oil tamponade also influences the VOL and VEL of the fundus.