Displacement of the Foveal Retinal Layers After Macular Hole Surgery Assessed Using En Face Optical Coherence Tomography Images.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To investigate the displacement of foveal retinal layers in surgically closed macular holes (MHs) after removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records of 26 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy and removal of the ILM for idiopathic MH were retrospectively reviewed. En face optical coherence tomography images were exported at the level of the choroid, ellipsoid zone (EZ), and inner plexiform layer (IPL) at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months. The foveal center of the EZ and IPL was marked in the choroid en face image. The choroidal images were overlapped to match the vasculature in each patient, and the postoperative displacement of the foveal center was compared to baseline.

RESULTS

The center of the EZ and IPL was displaced significantly toward the disc during the first 3 months. The mean horizontal displacement at 1, 3, and 6 months was 52.7 μm, 112.5 μm, and 115.4 μm, respectively, for the EZ and 75.2 μm, 117.1 μm, and 136.5 μm, respectively, for the IPL. The location of the foveal center was significantly correlated between the EZ and the IPL (P ≤ .016).

CONCLUSIONS

The fovea was displaced nasally and slightly inferiorly after removal of the ILM. The displacement of the photoreceptor and inner retinal layers was concurrent. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:414-422.].