Retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in evaluation of peripheral retinal lesions.

AIM: To study the diagnostic potential of retro-mode scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (RM-SLO) for evaluation of peripheral retinal lesions.

METHODS

Based on the results of indirect ophthalmoscopy, in this study, we included asymptomatic subjects with lattice retinal degeneration, retinal break, or subclinical retinal detachment and subjects without any peripheral retinal lesions. All participants' fundus periphery was examined with RM-SLO over 360° for the presence of peripheral retinal lesions in a masked fashion. Detection rate for retinal breaks and detachments were compared between indirect ophthalmoscopy and RM-SLO.

RESULTS

Twenty-six subjects (52 eyes, 15 males and 11 females, 34.8 ± 11.8 years) were included in the peripheral retinal lesion group and 25 individuals (50 eyes, 10 males and 15 females, 42.8 ± 14.5 years) were included in the group without peripheral retinal lesions. Among the patients with peripheral retinal lesions detected with indirect ophthalmoscopy in at least one eye, RM-SLO categorized 20.7% (p = 0.031) more eyes as having subclinical asymptomatic retinal detachment or at least one retinal break. Additionally, RM-SLO demonstrated 55.0% (p = 0.001) more subclinical retinal detachments and 31.5% (p = 0.002) more asymptomatic retinal breaks.

CONCLUSIONS

RM-SLO showed high potential in diagnosing peripheral retinal lesions and may be a useful additional diagnostic tool for the patients who demonstrate peripheral retinal lesions with indirect ophthalmoscopy.