An Analysis of Optic Disc Parameters in Patients with Peripheral Retinal Tears Following Acute Posterior Vitreous...

To investigate association between optic disc parameters analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and occurrence of peripheral retinal tears in patients with symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment (PVD).

This cross-sectional study enrolled 75 patients with symptoms of acute PVD, who were allocated into two groups based on whether a peripheral retinal tear occurred or not.

When comparing the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (μm) between retinal tear and control groups, it was shown that patients with a retinal tear have a significantly higher (87.18 [95% confidence interval (CI), 84.47 to 89.9] vs 81.14 [95% CI, 77.81 to 84.46], P = 0.005) average RNFL thickness. Furthermore, we observed a significant difference (0.13, 0.06 to 0.22 vs 0.07, 0.04 to 0.1, P = 0.036, Mann-Whitney U-test) in the size of cup volume (mm³) between the tear and control groups, respectively. Linear regression showed a significant decrease (P = 0.029) in average RNFL thickness with increasing age, but without a significant difference between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the tear and control groups in terms of rim area, disc area, and average cup-to-disc ratio.

Patients with a higher average RNFL thickness and larger cup volume measured by OCT were more prone to develop a peripheral retinal tear. Increased peripapillary average RNFL thickness due to trauma and subsequent inflammation, possibly related to the more adherent posterior hyaloid membrane to the retina, may also indicate strengthened adhesions in the areas of the peripheral retina where retinal tears occur. OCT analysis of the optic nerve head may be used in everyday clinical practice as a predictor of the development of peripheral retinal tears in patients with symptomatic PVD.