Retinal Morphology in Successfully Treated Macula-Off Retinal Detachment Based on Semiautomated Layer Quantification of High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal layer thickness (RLT) after retinal detachment (RD) using high-resolution (HighRes) optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

This prospective, cross-sectional, observational study included 44 (out of 53; 14 [31.8%] female; mean age = 62 ± 10 years) patients with successfully treated macula-off RD. HighRes OCT and Spectralis OCT volume scans (97 scans; both Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) were generated for study eyes (SEs) and healthy fellow eyes (FEs), followed by semiautomatic layer segmentation analysis.

RESULTS

The thicknesses of the ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) were higher in SEs than in FEs (GCL-IPL: 64.4 ± 5.4 µm vs. 61.2 ± 5.2 µm, P < 0.001; INL: 35.1 ± 2.9 µm vs. 32.9 ± 2.7 µm, P < 0.001). HighRes OCT revealed thinner GCL-IPL and ellipsoid zone (EZ) (GCL-IPL: 64.2 ± 5.5 µm vs. 65.2 ± 5.7 µm, P < 0.001; EZ: 8.9 ± 1.4 µm vs. 13.7 ± 1.0 µm, P < 0.001) and thicker INL, outer plexiform layer to myoid zone (OPL-MZ), and combined outer segments of photoreceptors to interdigitation zone (PROS-IZ) than Spectralis OCT (INL: 35.2 ± 3.2 µm vs. 33.9 ± 2.8 µm, P < 0.001; OPL-MZ: 102.7 ± 8.1 µm vs. 99.8 ± 7.6 µm, P < 0.001; PROS-IZ: 19.4 ± 4.9 µm vs. 8.4 ± 2.1 µm, P < 0.001). HighRes OCT revealed two distinct hyperreflective bands between the retinal pigment epithelium and EZ in all SEs, which were not visible in Spectralis OCT.

CONCLUSIONS

GCL-IPL and INL were thicker in SEs, with RLT differing between imaging devices. Compared with Spectralis OCT, HighRes OCT provides enhanced images of outer retinal layers, which are most relevant for visual outcome in patients with macula-off RD.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: HighRes OCT may improve the diagnostic accuracy, potentially enhancing clinical management of RD.