Intact Ellipsoid Zone and External Limiting Membrane are Good Prognostic Factors after Successful Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a vision-threatening disorder. Although successful repair of RRD, incomplete visual recovery, color vision defects, or persistent metamorphopsia may be still persist. Recent advances in retinal imaging have improved resolution to survey retinal pathologic changes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is a non-contact real-time system which provides a rapid sweep of serial retinal scans that facilitates improved visualization of foveal microstructural changes. Several studies reported subtle foveal changes after successful surgical management of RRD, such as disruptions of the ellipsoid zone and disruptions of the external limiting membrane (ELM). These abnormalities were associated with decreased postoperative visual acuity. The integrity of the ellipsoid zone and ELM seems critical for predicting the better visual recovery after anatomically successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.