Choroidal and Retinal OCTA Parameters after Scleral Buckling

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Choroidal Imaging

Background:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a condition requiring surgical intervention.
• Scleral buckling (SB) is a common surgical technique for RRD repair.
• Understanding the long-term effects of SB on choroidal structure and vasculature is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate choroidal structure and vasculature in eyes following scleral buckling (SB) for RRD.
• To compare these findings with fellow eyes and normal control eyes.
• To assess the impact of SB on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters and choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study involving 84 eyes.
• Study group: 32 eyes post-SB for RRD.
• Comparison groups: 32 fellow eyes and 20 normal control eyes.
• Choroidal structures and OCTA parameters were measured and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Total choroidal area was comparable across SB, fellow, and control eyes.
• Mean outer luminal area was significantly lower in SB eyes compared to fellow and control eyes (P=0.042, P=0.047).
• Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and OCTA parameters showed no significant differences among the groups.

Conclusions:

• Scleral buckling surgery does not significantly impact choroidal vascularity index (CVI).
• Choroidal vasculature and OCTA parameters remain largely unaffected after SB for RRD.
• SB appears to be a safe procedure concerning choroidal structure and vascularity.