Correlation between retinal sensitivity and foveal microstructure after successful surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Purpose To observe the correlation between retinal sensitivity, as measured by microperimetry, and foveal microstructure abnormalities in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after successful surgery. Methods In this cross-sectional study, patients with primary unilateral RRD with retinal attachment more than three months after surgery were enrolled. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to observe changes in foveal microstructure. Mean retinal sensitivity (MS) and fixation stability were measured using microperimetry, and the correlation between MS and foveal microstructure abnormalities was analyzed. Results Thirty patients with RRD were included in this study (8 females and 22 males). Analysis of the foveal microstructure by SD-OCT revealed the formation of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in 21 RRD eyes with RRD (70%), disruption of the external limiting membrane (ELM) in 10 RRD eyes (33%), disruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) in 9 RRD eyes (30%), and changes in the continuity of the interdigitation zone (IZ) in 18 RRD eyes with RRD (60%). The mean retinal sensitivity of the RRD eyes was significantly lower than that of the healthy fellow eyes (25.74 ± 1.60 vs. 27.86 ± 1.83 dB; p>0.01), and there was no significant difference in fixation stability between the eyes (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between MS and disruption of the ELM (coefficient = −0.37, p = 0.04) and EZ (coefficient −0.39, p = 0.04). Conclusions The mean retinal sensitivity decreased in RRD patients with RRD after successful surgery, but the fixation stability was not abnormal. The decline in MS correlated with the disruption of ELM and EZ.