Serial Spectral Domain Ocular Coherence Tomography Measurement of Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair

INTRODUCTION: The outer nuclear layer (ONL) contains mostly photoreceptor bodies and reduced post-operative ONL thickness (ONLT) is associated with poor visual outcome in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: Spectral domain ocular coherence tomography was recorded before and 6 weeks following RRD repair in 27 consecutive patients. RESULTS: The repair consisted of combined 20-guage pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and encirclement in 66.7% of cases, 22.2% underwent PPV alone and 11.1% scleral buckle alone. The mean (± standard deviation) ONLT was reduced in detached retinae (94.1 ± 31.1 microns) compared to the unaffected eye (119.5 ± 26.8 microns). Postoperatively the ONLT increased to 103.3 (± 32.8) microns. ONLT at presentation in the affected eye is significantly and positively correlated with the final ONLT in the affected eye (Pearson's correlation: r = 0.80, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: The finding that ONLT is reduced in detached retinae carries implications for visual prognosis.