PURPOSE: To determine the impact of metamorphopsia on quality of life after successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery and to determine which retinal changes are related to the most severe distortions. DESIGN: This was a prospective, observational, consecutive study. METHODS: The study included 58 eyes of 58 consecutive patients who underwent successful RD surgery. At 6 months postoperatively, the incidence and severity of metamorphopsia were assessed by a quality-of-life questionnaire. Microstructure retinal changes were studied with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). The questionnaire score was compared with pre- and postoperative OCT findings. RESULTS: Overall, 20 patients (34.5%) had metamorphopsia. Outer retinal folds (ORFs) and the macular status before surgery, together with postoperative ORFs and decrease in ellipsoid and/or interdigitation photoreceptor zone reflectivity, were identified as risk factors of developing metamorphopsia (relative risk, 1.7-4.8). The most severe visual distortions were associated with ORFs. CONCLUSION: Metamorphopsia is a frequent occurrence after RD surgery and its impact on patients' quality of life appears to be limited. While it may be difficult to prevent photoreceptor loss occurring after surgery, limiting postoperative ORFs may be helpful in reducing their incidence.
PURPOSE: To determine the impact of metamorphopsia on quality of life after successful retinal detachment (RD) surgery and to determine which retinal changes are related to the most severe distortions. DESIGN: This was a prospective, observational, consecutive study. METHODS: The study included 58 eyes of 58 consecutive patients who underwent successful RD surgery. At 6 months postoperatively, the incidence and severity of metamorphopsia were assessed by a quality-of-life questionnaire. Microstructure retinal changes were studied with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). The questionnaire score was compared with pre- and postoperative OCT findings. RESULTS: Overall, 20 patients (34.5%) had metamorphopsia. Outer retinal folds (ORFs) and the macular status before surgery, together with postoperative ORFs and decrease in ellipsoid and/or interdigitation photoreceptor zone reflectivity, were identified as risk factors of developing metamorphopsia (relative risk, 1.7-4.8). The most severe visual distortions were associated with ORFs. CONCLUSION:Metamorphopsia is a frequent occurrence after RD surgery and its impact on patients' quality of life appears to be limited. While it may be difficult to prevent photoreceptor loss occurring after surgery, limiting postoperative ORFs may be helpful in reducing their incidence.