Fractal Dimension and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Features of the Central Macula After Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography angiography demonstrates significant reduction in mean capillary density index and fractal dimension in patients after surgery for RRD in our patients. Thus, reduction in vascular perfusion and branching pattern identified using novel analysis techniques on optical coherence tomography angiography images may provide an insight into the reasons for suboptimal visual gain after RRD surgery.

Smaller Foveal Avascular Zone in Deep Capillary Plexus Is Associated with Better Visual Acuity in Patients after Macula-off Retinal Detachment Surgery

“…The study of Woo et al 17 included patients with macula-on and macula-off RRD, and, although they measured the healthy fellow eyes as controls, macula-off eyes were compared with the control eyes of both macula-on and macula-off patients. Similar to the study of Agarwal et al, 15 the observed difference could also be due to the interindividual variability of FAZ.…”

“…The current literature reports contradicting results regarding the FAZ after surgery for macula-off RRD. One study 19 reported no difference in FAZ between macula-off RRD eyes and control eyes, and two other studies 15,17 reported larger FAZ in macula-off RRD eyes compared with control eyes. These contradicting results can be explained by differences in control groups.…”

“…This method is appropriate because the FAZ has been shown to be similar in both eyes of healthy volunteers, but varies among individuals. 35 Agarwal et al 15 compared macula-off RRD eyes to eyes of healthy control subjects and found a larger FAZ in macula-off RRD eyes. It is possible that the difference in FAZ between the study and control group is caused by the variability of FAZ in the groups.…”

“…12 Earlier studies have evaluated the FAZ and VD in the superficial capillary plexus and DCP after maculaoff RRD surgery, but no study has evaluated these two parameters in the three distinct plexuses. [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Photoreceptors receive most of their oxygen from the choroid and about 15% from the DCP. 20 During an RRD, damage to photoreceptor outer segments occurs within 12 hours owing to separation from the choroid, which results in apoptosis of photoreceptors.…”

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

“…However, this study did not analyze the FAZ area or VD of the eyes with RRD and did not show the specific endotamponade used in vitrectomy. Agarwal et al 16 investigated OCTA features in patients with macula-off RRD who underwent scleral buckling or vitrectomy with gas tamponade and compared them with healthy subjects. They revealed that mean capillary density index were reduced and FAZ area were enlarged in both the SCP and DCP in patients after surgery.…”