Foveal Microvascular Structures in Eyes with Silicone Oil Tamponade for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment: A Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 13;10(1):2555. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59504-3.

Abstract

Silicone oil (SO) is widely used as a long-term intravitreal tamponading agent for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. This study investigated the structural changes of the foveal microvasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with RRD treated with vitrectomy and SO tamponade. Thirty-eight patients with unilateral RRD who were treated with vitrectomy and SO tamponade and were followed up for ≥3 months after SO removal were included. En face OCTA images were obtained and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and vascular density (VD) were compared between study eyes and unaffected contralateral eyes. The FAZ area in deep capillary plexus (DCP) was larger (P < 0.001) and the VD in DCP was lower (P = 0.022) in the study eyes than in the fellow eyes. The duration of SO tamponade was significantly correlated with the enlargement of FAZ area (P = 0.034) and reduction of VD in DCP (P = 0.015). These changes could reflect vascular insufficiency in eyes with SO tamponade and may represent a potential explanation for the pathogenesis of retinal thinning and unexplained visual loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Eye / drug effects
  • Eye / pathology
  • Eye / ultrastructure
  • Female
  • Fovea Centralis / drug effects
  • Fovea Centralis / pathology
  • Fovea Centralis / surgery*
  • Fovea Centralis / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Macula Lutea / blood supply
  • Macula Lutea / drug effects
  • Macula Lutea / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / physiopathology
  • Retina / surgery*
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Detachment / drug therapy
  • Retinal Detachment / physiopathology
  • Retinal Detachment / surgery*
  • Retinal Vessels / drug effects
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology
  • Silicone Oils / administration & dosage*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*
  • Visual Acuity / physiology
  • Vitrectomy / methods

Substances

  • Silicone Oils