Pathophysiology of outer retinal corrugations: Imaging dataset and mechanical models

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Retinal Imaging

Background:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) can cause structural changes in the retina.
• Outer retinal corrugations (ORCs) are observed in RRD but their formation mechanism is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elaborate a mechanical model explaining the formation of outer retinal corrugations (ORCs) in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
• To validate the mechanical model using high-resolution swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) imaging data.

Main Methods:

• Collected and analyzed 69 baseline cross-sectional SS-OCT scans from 66 RRD patients.
• Selected SS-OCT images from 4 RRD patients with visible ORCs and no cystoid macular edema (CME) for model validation.
• Modeled the retina as a composite material and measured retinal layer thicknesses and outer retinal layer length increase (γ) from SS-OCT images.

Main Results:

• Measurements from SS-OCT scans showed a 30% increase in outer retinal layer length (γ=0.3) and a 400% increase in outer retinal layer thickness (To) in RRD patients.
• The mechanical model, with an elastic modulus ratio (Eo/Ei) between 0.05 to 0.5, accurately predicted ORC frequency observed in SS-OCT scans.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a validated mechanical model for ORC formation in RRD.
• The findings suggest that dysregulation between the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor layer contributes to ORC development in RRD.