Differentiation of degenerative retinoschisis from retinal detachment using optical coherence tomography.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to differentiate retinoschisis from retinal detachment. Optical coherence tomography is a noninvasive, noncontact imaging method that produces high-resolution, cross-sectional images of ocular tissue.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirteen eyes of 12 patients with the differential diagnosis of retinoschisis versus retinal detachment.

METHODS

Differentiation between retinoschisis and retinal detachment was established from both ophthalmoscopic and OCT examinations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Ability of OCT to differentiate retinoschisis from retinal detachment was measured.

RESULTS

Thirteen eyes of 12 patients with retinal elevation were examined with OCT. The cross-sectional view produced by OCT was effective in distinguishing retinoschisis from retinal detachment. Optical coherence tomography images of retinoschisis show a splitting of the neurosensory retina. The OCT images of retinal detachment show separation of full-thickness neurosensory retina from the retinal pigment epithelium band. The OCT images correlated with the clinical impression in all 13 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this series of cases, OCT is a potentially useful new test that may be used to distinguish retinoschisis from rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.