Functional and perfusion changes associated with silicone oil tamponade after macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery: an optical coherence tomography angiography/microperimetry study

Abstract Purpose The current study utilizes microperimetry and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to assess the optic nerve head vasculature, retinal microvasculature, and retinal sensitivity before and after silicone oil (SO) removal. Methods This prospective observational case series study involved 30 eyes subjected to silicone oil endotamponade. Microperimetry and OCTA were utilized to assess the vascular density (VD) of the macula and optic nerve head, as well as the retinal sensitivity (RS), of the participants preoperatively and 1 month following SO removal. The correlation between the various parameters of OCTA and microperimetry was evaluated. Results There was a significant improvement in the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ( p- value < 0.001) and the postoperative total RS, which was 6.38 ± 2.34 dB as compared to a mean preoperative total RS of 5.04 ± 2.06 dB ( p -value < 0.001) and showing a significant increase in all rings. However, there was no significant difference in the pre and postoperative macular VD. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the postoperative VD of the whole disk and the peripapillary capillary plexus, p -values < 0.001 and 0.002 , respectively. Conclusion The removal of SO resulted in significant improvements in retinal sensitivity, vision, and optic nerve perfusion. However, no significant change was observed in macular VD. Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT04928196.