PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE MACULAR SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT USING MICROPERIMETRY IN EYES UNDERGOING SILICONE OIL REMOVAL

Purpose: To evaluate the functional changes on the macula, before and after silicone oil removal (SOR) using microperimetry (MP3) in patients originally operated for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Methods: Prospective interventional study, N = 20. All cases underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including determination of Snellen best-corrected visual acuity, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and MP3 for measuring retinal sensitivity. Primary outcome measure was to describe the alterations in the retinal sensitivity on the macula after SOR. Results: Mean retinal sensitivity increased in 100% patients (20/20) after SOR with a mean value of 97.44 dB. Best-corrected visual acuity after SOR remained unchanged in 90% (18/20) and improved by 2 lines in only 10% patients (2/20). Median retinal sensitivity of central 6° of the macula was 766.95 ± 173.29 dB before SOR and 863.8 ± 181.08 dB after SOR, P < 0.0001. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 before SOR (range, 20/30–20/60) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.314 ± 0.169) and 20/40 after SOR (range 20/30–20/80) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 0.315 ± 0.159), P = 0.1628. Conclusion: MP3 was found to be a highly sensitive tool in detecting increased retinal sensitivity after SOR, particularly in central 6° of the macula without significant change in best-corrected visual acuity. Hence, MP3 is an important qualitative indicator of visual function.