Quantitative Microvascular Change Analysis Using a Semi-Automated Algorithm in Macula-on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Assessed by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to objectively evaluate the longitudinal changes observed in the retinal capillaries in eyes with macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and to assess the role of these microvascular measures as potential biomarkers of postoperative visual outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal study conducted on consecutive patients who underwent 25 G pars plana vitrectomy for primary RRD. The vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), and vessel diameter index (VDI) were assessed in the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses. Results: Twenty-three eyes with macula-on RRD were included in the study. The mean preoperative VDI, VAD, and VSD of the RRD eye were 18.6 ± 1.1, 0.43 ± 0.02, and 0.17 ± 0.01 in the SCP; and 18.6 ± 0.6, 0.38 ± 0.03, and 0.15 ± 0.01 in the DCP, respectively. At month 6, eight (34.8%) eyes achieved a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR. A preoperative VDI > 17.80, VSD > 0.170, and VDI-change > −0.395 in the SCP; and VDI > 18.11 and VDI change > −0.039 in the DCP were predictors of achieving a BCVA-gain ≥ 0.1 LogMAR. Conclusions: The preoperative VDI in SCP and DCP, the preoperative VSD in SCP, and their changes from preoperative values were predictors of visual outcomes. A quantitative OCTA analysis of capillary density and morphology may represent a potential predictive tool for surgical outcomes in RRD. The results reported in this study suggest that OCTA is a useful ancillary test for clinical disease management.

Quantitative Microvascular Change Analysis Using a Semi-Automated Software in Macula-off Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Assessed by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

“…In addition, this study used custom semi-automated software [15,17] for evaluating vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), and vessel diameter index (VDI). To achieve this, the 2D grayscale En-Face SS-OCTA image was initially transformed into an 8-bit image (586 × 585 pixels) covering an area of 3 × 3 mm 2 around the fovea (with 1 pixel equating to 5.13 × 5.13 µm 2 ).…”

“…We present a custom semi-automated software designed to assess vessel morphology within SS-OCTA images in a layer-specific manner [14]. In a previous work, we evaluated these OCTA-derived microvascular changes in macula-on RRD [15] and observed that some preoperative values and their changes throughout time were predictors of visual outcomes.…”

Correction: Díaz-Aljaro et al. Quantitative Microvascular Change Analysis Using a Semi-Automated Algorithm in Macula-on Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Assessed by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography. Diagnostics 2024, 14, 750

“…In the original publication [ 1 ], there was a mistake in Table 2 as published. VDI data for the deep capillary plexus was deleted by mistake.…”