Correlation of visual acuity and optical coherence tomography in patients with decreased visual acuity after surgery for retinal detachment

Abstract

Objective: This study determined the incidence of macular abnormalities detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) among patients who have undergone retinal-detachment surgery and investigated the association between pre- and postoperative vision, macular thickness, duration of detachment, and type of surgery done with respect to OCT findings.

Methods: This is a noncomparative, nonconsecutive prospective case series of 41 eyes with unsatisfactory vision after scleral buckling, vitrectomy, or pneumatic retinopexy. OCT of the macula were taken and pre- and postoperative visual acuity (VA), time until retinal repair, time until OCT, and type of surgery were analyzed.

Results: The mean postoperative VA was 20/130. There was a positive linear relationship between pre- and postoperative VA. The average macular thickness was 254 ± 60 µ, and a strong positive correlation with postoperative logMAR VA was observed. Nineteen (49%) eyes exhibited pockets of subretinal fluid (SRF), 6 had foveal thinning, 5 had macular hole, and 1 each had foveal cyst, cystoid macular edema, and epiretinal membrane. Six patients had worse vision after surgery, 2 of whom had SRF on OCT, 2 foveal thinning, 1 mild macular thickening, and 1 normal image.

Conclusion: OCT images of various macular abnormalities may explain post-detachment-surgery visual complaints. There was a positive correlation between pre- and postoperative VA, and an inverse correlation between macular thickness and postoperative VA.