Displacement of the retina in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair.

PURPOSE

To investigate a potential displacement of the retina in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair using infrared (IR) homography.

METHODS

Prospective observational study with a two-year follow-up of patients with primary fovea-off reghmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Patients who developed macular structural disease during follow-up, including epiretinal membrane, and patients with insufficient image quality were excluded. Patients were imaged with IR scanning laser ophthalmology images at 1 and 24 months after pars plana vitrectomy and sulphur hexafluoride tamponade for RRD. Using custom software, the two IR images from the separate follow-up visits were superimposed to generate IR homography images. Proper alignment was ensured using choroidal and optic nerve landmarks. The main outcome measure was misalignment of the major retinal vessel arcades on IR homography.

RESULTS

36 patients completed the follow-up. 13 patients with a median age of 62 years (IQR = 11) were included. Retinal displacement between the 1st and 24th postoperative month was found in 8 patients (62%). Inter-grader agreement was κ = 0.831 (SE: 0.16), (p = 0.002). The direction of displacement occurred inferiorly in n = 5 cases (63%) and superiorly in n = 3 cases (38%). Use of perfluocarbon liquid was positively associated with late displacement (ϕ = 0.675, (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

This proof-of-concept study found retinal displacement in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair using a validated method designated IR homography. Use of perfluocarbon liquid may have a long-lasting effect on the plasticity of the retina, warranting future investigation.