Macular and Optic Disc Perfusion Changes After Silicone Oil Removal Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the changes in macular and optic disc microvascular structures in patients who underwent silicone oil (SO) removal. Materials and methods: A total of 28 patients scheduled for unilateral SO removal were included in the study. Their fellow eyes served as controls. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the retina (6.0 mm) and disc (4.5 mm) was performed one day before SO removal, and then at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. All analyses were conducted using the R programming language, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: After silicone oil removal, statistically significant changes were observed in the flow in the outer retina and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density for small and all vessels inside the disc. Statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups were noted in vessel density in both the superficial and deep capillary plexuses and RPC density for small and all vessels. Conclusion: Changes in macular vessel density and radial peripapillary capillary density were observed after SO removal. The latter changes appear to improve after the first postoperative month and continue until the first postoperative year. Notably, these changes were significant between the first postoperative week and 6 and 12 postoperative months (p = 0.0263 and p = 0.021, respectively). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) is likely associated with these parameters, indicating that improvement may be observed even one year following SO removal.