PURPOSE

To compare posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) identification rate between clinical examination versus spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients with retinal detachment (RD).

METHODS

Data from the Primary Retinal Detachment Outcomes Study were used for this retrospective cross-sectional study of 506 patients. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were reviewed to detect the separation of the posterior hyaloid face from the retina and the optic nerve on all 31 raster cuts of a 30 × 30 scan. Statistical analysis was performed to compare spectral domain optical coherence tomography-identified PVD with PVD identified on slit-lamp biomicroscopy.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the rate of PVD identification by clinical examination versus spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients with RD. Clinical examination identified 51.58% of patients with PVD, whereas spectral domain optical coherence tomography identified 78.42% of patients with PVD. In patients with macula-on RD, 61.68% were found to have PVD on clinical examination versus 83.90% by imaging. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography identified larger number of PVD in patients with macula-off RD compared with clinical examination, 46.28% versus 75.43%, respectively. There was low agreement between the two methods (kappa score = 0.137). There was a significant difference in surgical procedure type chosen in those with versus without PVD.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge about the posterior hyaloid anatomy is important before undergoing RD repair. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography can better identify PVD than clinical examination in patients with RD.