PRERETINAL HYPERREFLECTIVE DOTS: A Novel Optical Coherence Tomography Sign Associated With the Development of Epiretinal Membrane After Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between preretinal hyperreflective dots (PHD) with the occurrence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for RRD at Ophtalmopôle de Paris. Optical coherence tomography scans were acquired at 1, 3, and 6 months and 1 year postsurgery. Preretinal hyperreflective dots were defined as point-like hyperreflective deposits on the inner retinal surface on the first postoperative optical coherence tomography. The association between PHD and ERM was evaluated using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Of 894 patients who underwent vitrectomy for RRD, 417 were included in the analysis. Univariate analysis showed significant associations between ERM occurrence and macula-off RRD ( P = 0.043), number of retinal tears ( P = 0.002), use of cryopexy ( P = 0.012), C 2 F 6 tamponade ( P = 0.045), and presence of PHD on optical coherence tomography ( P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, presence of PHD ( P < 0.001) and use of cryopexy ( P = 0.013) were significant predictors of ERM. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the cumulative probability of developing an ERM at 6 months was 4% in patients without PHD and 26% in patients with PHD ( P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Preretinal hyperreflective dots are associated with the occurrence of ERM after vitrectomy for RRD.