Evaluation of recovery process of photoreceptor outer segment after retinal detachment repair

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relations in the recovery process between the photoreceptor outer segment and visual acuity of repaired macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three eyes with repaired macula-off RRD were examined to assess the photoreceptor inner and outer segment junctions (IS/OS), the external limiting membranes (ELM) and the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL). The correlation between this recovery process and log MAR visual acuity was assessed at three months and six months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean logMAR visual acuity of the group with IS/OS disruptions at three months and without IS/OS disruptions at six months was 0.34 +/-0.09 (mean +/- SE, n=7) at three months and significantly improved to 0.06 +/- 0.08 at six months. In the group with IS/OS disruptions and without ELM disruptions at three months, the mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.36 +/- 0.27 (n=6) at three months and improved significantly to 0.07 +/- 0.24 at six months. CONCLUSIONS: There was a correlation between the reduction of visual acuity with repaired macula-off RRD and the disruption of IS/OS, and a correlation was also found between the improvement in visual acuity after repaired macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and reduction of IS/OS disruptions. The results suggest that absence of ELM disruptions is a requirement for improvement of IS/ OS disruptions.