Prevalence and Risk Factors for Metamorphopsia after Successful Retinal Detachment Surgery

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of metamorphopsia following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery, as well as associated predictive factors.

A total of 107 eyes successfully operated for RRD underwent metamorphopsia severity assessment using M-CHARTS, and foveal microstructure analysis by spectral domain optical coherence tomography, at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression rendered evaluation of preoperative risk factors. The correlation between metamorphopsia score and outer retinal layer (ORL) integrity was investigated and preoperative risk factors evaluated.

The prevalence of postoperative metamorphopsia decreased from 51.4 to 29.9% and the median metamorphopsia score significantly improved (0.5, 95% CI: 0.3; 0.9, to 0.2, 95% CI: 0; 0.5, p < 0.001) from 1 to 6 months, respectively. Preoperative macular detachment was the only predictor found (OR 11.0, 95% CI: 3.1; 39.4, p < 0.001). Metamorphopsia severity was significantly associated with outer nuclear layer thickness and the status of the ellipsoid and cone interdigitation zones. One-month M-CHARTS had 81% sensitivity and 87% specificity in predicting full metamorphopsia recovery at 6 months (0.45 cut-off score).

The prevalence of metamorphopsia decreased in parallel to ORL restoration, thus demonstrating the etiological role of photoreceptor-level morphological changes. M-CHARTS allowed for monitoring and predicting metamorphopsia recovery after RRD.