Preoperative and postoperative optical coherence tomography findings in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment involving the macular region.

Purpose. To evaluate morphologic changes of the macula, we observed eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) involving the macular region by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Subjects and Methods. We studied 26 eyes with RRD before and after surgery, assessing visual acuity, the height of retinal detachment at the fovea (HRD), and morphologic changes of the macular region. The interval between the onset and surgery was also determined. We examined the external limiting membrane (ELM) after surgery and the continuity of the inner segment-outer segment junction (IS/OS junction) of the photoreceptor layer. Results. Impairment of visual acuity was observed when HRD was over 1,000  μ m, when there was outer nuclear layer edema before surgery, and when there was IS/OS junction disruption 3 months after surgery. However, 67% of eyes with a continuous ELM and IS/OS junction disruption 3 months after surgery eventually showed restoration of the continuity of IS/OS junction at 6 months. Conclusions. Impairment of visual acuity was observed in eyes with HRD >1,000  μ m, preoperative outer nuclear layer edema, and IS/OS junction disruption 3 months postoperatively. It is suggested that continuity of ELM might affect restoration of IS/OS junction after surgery for retinal detachment.