Cheolmin Yun1, Jaemoon Ahn1, Mingue Kim1, Jee Taek Kim2, Soon-Young Hwang3, Seong-Woo Kim1, Jaeryung Oh4. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. 4. Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-ga, Sungbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea. ojr4991@korea.ac.kr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to investigate characteristics of retinal vessels in eyes with surgically closed macular holes (MH). METHODS: We included patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic MH and a follow-up examination using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and retinal vascular densities of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were calculated on the postoperative OCTA images and compared with those of age-matched normal controls. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with MH and 28 controls were included. Mean postoperative FAZ areas of SCP and DCP (0.317 ± 0.129 mm2 and 0.500 ± 0.174 mm2) were smaller than those of normal controls (0.406 ± 0.131 mm2 and 0.687 ± 0.147 mm2) (P = 0.013 and P < 0.001, respectively). Retinal vascular densities of SCP and DCP in the MH group (32.23 ± 1.45% and 31.85 ± 1.28%) were lower than those of the control group (33.26 ± 1.71% and 33.18 ± 1.89%) (P = 0.019 and P = 0.003, respectively). The retinal vascular densities of SCP and DCP were associated with postoperative mean ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness (P = 0.033 and P = 0.035, respectively). The vascular densities were horizontally asymmetric and related to asymmetric distribution of GC-IPL thickness in the MH group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgically closed MH eyes had remodeled retinal vascular patterns, which were related to morphologic changes in the inner retinal layer. The healing process after MH surgery may be involved in asymmetric change in anatomy and hemodynamics of the inner retina.
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to investigate characteristics of retinal vessels in eyes with surgically closed macular holes (MH). METHODS: We included patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic MH and a follow-up examination using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and retinal vascular densities of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were calculated on the postoperative OCTA images and compared with those of age-matched normal controls. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with MH and 28 controls were included. Mean postoperative FAZ areas of SCP and DCP (0.317 ± 0.129 mm2 and 0.500 ± 0.174 mm2) were smaller than those of normal controls (0.406 ± 0.131 mm2 and 0.687 ± 0.147 mm2) (P = 0.013 and P < 0.001, respectively). Retinal vascular densities of SCP and DCP in the MH group (32.23 ± 1.45% and 31.85 ± 1.28%) were lower than those of the control group (33.26 ± 1.71% and 33.18 ± 1.89%) (P = 0.019 and P = 0.003, respectively). The retinal vascular densities of SCP and DCP were associated with postoperative mean ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness (P = 0.033 and P = 0.035, respectively). The vascular densities were horizontally asymmetric and related to asymmetric distribution of GC-IPL thickness in the MH group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgically closed MH eyes had remodeled retinal vascular patterns, which were related to morphologic changes in the inner retinal layer. The healing process after MH surgery may be involved in asymmetric change in anatomy and hemodynamics of the inner retina.