Microcirculation in eyes after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery

PURPOSE: To investigate the tissue blood flow in the neuroretinal rim of the optic disk and macula after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery. METHODS: Tissue blood flow in the neuroretinal rim of the optic disk and macula was measured with the Heidelberg retina flowmeter in 53 eyes of 53 patients who had undergone successful surgery for unilateral RRD. Patients were divided into three groups; those who had the RRD treated by conventional encircling scleral buckling (group E), by local buckling (group L), and by primary vitrectomy (group V). Blood flow measurements were made more than 6 months after surgery in a 10 degrees x 2.5 degrees area of the superior and inferior margins of the neuroretinal disk rim and of the superior and inferior macula area. The mean blood flow (MBF) and the ratio of the MBF in the affected eye to the healthy fellow eye (a/f ratio) were compared among the three groups. The influence of several clinical factors on the MBF was also investigated. RESULTS: The MBF rate and mean a/f ratios of the MBF of the three groups were not significantly different. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the averaged MBF both at superior and inferior disk rims was significantly correlated with only the gas tamponade procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The ocular microcirculation is normal 6 months after scleral buckling or vitrectomy for RRD. However, the use of gas tamponade might have a subclinical adverse effect on the circulation in the neuroretinal disk rim.