RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT: Progression and Characteristics of Postoperative Demarcation Lines

To report the characteristics of retinal detachment demarcation lines on infrared imaging together with retinal detachment progression analysis.

We performed a retrospective case series of 25 eyes of 24 patients who underwent macula off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair and demonstrated a postoperative demarcation line on in infrared imaging. All patients had an optical coherence tomography imaging at baseline capturing the extent of the RRD. Criteria for demarcation lines diagnosis on infrared imaging included a line parallel and with the same contour of the RRD edge. These lines were not observed on infrared imaging before RRD repair surgery.

Demarcation lines' hyperreflectivity was situated in the interdigitation-ellipsoid zone complex. These lines were more obvious on the early postoperative week but faded over time (average disappearance time 2.6 ± 2.9 months). The analysis of retinal detachment progression showed that superior RRDs progressed more than inferior RRDs (611 vs. 122 μ , P = 0.02). Among 13 cases with a superior RRD, the temporal border progressed more than the nasal side (697 vs. 426 μ , P = 0.01, Figure 1). The use of intraoperative perfluorocarbon was associated with less RRD progression ( P = 0.01).

The study concludes that demarcation lines are distinct findings on infrared imaging, appearing early but diminishing relatively quickly after RRD repair. It also revealed the characteristics of RRDs progression specifically that inferior RRDs and perfluorocarbon use were associated with less retinal progression.