Macular Microcirculation after Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair Evaluated by OCT-Angiography

Abstract

In the process of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), retinal homeostasis may be adversely affected with resultant modifications in retinal and choroidal tissue. Hypoxia and nutrient deprivation along with inflammation at the detached retina may lead to morphological and microvascularity alterations. These changes imply that the functional status of the macula may not be entirely restored despite anatomical repair [1-8]. OCTAngiography (OCT-A) provides depth-resolved vascular information in a non-invasive procedure producing in situ representation of retinal and choroidal circulation, thus enabling physicians to examine foveal microstructure in detail. Interestingly, microcirculation changes in each capillary network including superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and choriocapillary plexus (CCP) seem to occur in a distinct way dependent on their location and tolerance to tissue hypoxia. Retinal microvasculature of the two capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) and choriocapillary network are evaluated in detail, while ICP is not always included in most studies due to projection artifact [911]. Notably, the currently available evidence concerning potential macular alterations as seen on OCT-A after RRD repair has stirred controversy as the results of the studies have not been unequivocally confirmed [12-31].