Adaptive Optics in PVR

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate the loss of retinal cells following retinal detachment surgery using an imaging device called an adaptive optics camera. The retina is a thin layer which lines the back of the eye. It is sensitive to light (like the film in a camera) and is necessary for vision. If a hole or rip develops in a retina it can become detached. The macula is the central portion of the retina which the investigators use for fine vision. This area can also become detached as part of a retinal detachment. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is an abnormal scarring response inside the eye which can occur when the retina detaches. It can adversely affect the outcome of the retinal detachment repair and is associated with a worse visual prognosis. The investigators want to investigate retinal cell loss in patients with retinal detachments that have developed PVR when the macula has been involved. The investigators plan to compare them to two other groups of patients, who have not developed PVR: 1. Patients with macula-involving retinal detachments without PVR 2. Patients with macula-sparing detachments without PVR The investigators will investigate retinal cell loss in these types of retinal detachments using adaptive optics imaging. This is a non-invasive imaging technique which allows the investigators to view the retina at very high magnification. Investigating photoreceptor loss and its association with visual outcome in this way should help to guide future interventions in promoting retinal regeneration. The investigators plan to recruit 25 patients at one UK hospital. The project is funded by the charity Fight for Sight.

A cohort of 10 cases of macula-involving retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C (RDPVR group) will be identified from vitreoretinal clinics at Moorfields Eye Hospital. 26 weeks following retinal detachment repair, and after removal of any silicone oil tamponade, these cases will undergo post-operative visual assessment, OCT imaging and microperimetry. These investigations will be correlated with adaptive optics (AO) enface imaging of cone photoreceptors at the macula. This will be compared with groups of 10 cases of macula involving retinal detachment without PVR (RD-OFF) and 5 cases of macula-sparing retinal detachment (RD-ON). Both comparison groups (RD-OFF \& RD-ON) will undergo assessments at both 6 weeks and 26 weeks post-operatively.