Multifocal electroretinogram and en-face OCT in patients who underwent retinal detachment surgery

Purpose To study the anatomical and functional recovery after retinal detachment surgery (RD) by studying the reflectivity of the ellipsoid band (ISe) measured in en-face OCT and multifocal electroretinography (M-ERG) and investigate the factors involved in the results. Methods Prospective study of 39 patients operated successfully of RD and examined at baseline and at 3 (M3) and 6 months (M6). SD-OCT and M-ERG were performed at each visit. A coronal view of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the cone inner segment ellipsoid (ISe) band were reconstructed on en-face OCT. The mean reflectivity in the 2 central degrees was calculated using image J and expressed as a gray level ranging from 0 (black) to 256 (white). Results M-ERG waves amplitudes were reduced in RD involving the macula (p < 0.05). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was correlated to the M-ERG amplitudes at 6 months (p < 0.01). CGL and ISe reflectivity were lower in the group with macular involvement (p < 0.05). ISe reflectivity was correlated with the BCVA at M3 and M6 (p < 0.001). ISe reflectivity was also related to the duration of the macular detachment (p = 0.01). However, we did not observe any correlation between GCL reflectivity and BCVA. While, the GCL reflectivity was correlated with the RMS amplitudes (p = 0.03), there was no correlation between M-ERG amplitudes and ISe reflectivity. Conclusions M-ERG represents a valuable tool in the assessment of visual function after RD. En-face OCT brings new insight on the integrity of the retinal structures after surgery, and shows that both inner and outer retinal layers are impaired after RD reattachment.