Contribution of multifocal electroretinography and optical coherence tomography in predicting the visual prognosis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Objective: To determine the contribution of multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in predicting the visual outcome in patients with macula-off retinal detachments. Material and Methods: Thirthy-seven eyes of 37 patients who had undergone conventional scleral buckling surgery with the diagnosis of macula-off retinal detachment were included in this prospective study. The fellow eyes of the patients served as the control group. Each study participant underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination and mfERG recordings were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Preoperative height of macular detachment (HMD) and scans of the fovea were assessed with OCT. Results: P1 and N1 amplitude responses of mfERG improved significantly in postoperative period (p<0.001). However, statistical analysis showed that both postoperative P1 and N1 amplitudes were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). Preoperative amplitudes of P1 of the summed mfERG showed positive (r=0.34, p=0.042) correlation with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) levels at 6th month of follow-up. Preoperative BCVA was positively correlated to preoperative intensity of P1 response of concentric ring 1+2 (r=0.38, p=0.020) and P1 amplitudes of the total stimulated area (r=0.47, p=0.003). Preoperative changes of the foveal structure (r=-0.39, p=0.019) and HMD (r=-0.54, p=0.001) showed negative correlation with BCVA levels measured at the 6th month of follow-up. No correlation was found between postoperative BCVA and both the duration of macular detachment and preoperative BCVA. Conclusion: Preoperative assessments of OCT and mfERG in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment may provide valuable prognostic data regarding the postoperative visual outcome. © 2013 by Türkiye Klinikleri.