Swept-source OCT angiography features in patients after macular hole surgery

Abstract

This study aimed to compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography (OCTA) findings between eyes with nearly recovered and partially recovered outer retina after full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery and to identify OCTA findings associated with visual acuity. We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients that underwent surgery for idiopathic FTMH. Swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) and OCTA were performed preoperatively, three, and six months postoperatively. Subgroups were divided by the integrity of the external limiting membranes (ELMs) and ellipsoid zones (EZs) after surgery. Correlations between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at six months after the surgery and SS-OCT or OCTA measurements were analyzed. There was no difference in the preoperative retinal or choroidal vascular index on the OCTA between the nearly recovered and partially recovered group. Six months after surgery, the choriocapillaris flow void area was significantly higher in the partially recovered group than the fellow eye. The nearly recovered group showed better choroidal vascular flow, and the postoperative vision at six months correlated with the ratio of the operated eye’s choriocapillaris flow void area to the fellow eye. Sufficient choriocapillaris flow on the OCTA was associated with better outer retinal recovery and visual outcomes after MH surgery.