# Displacement of the retina in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair

## TL;DR

This study found that the retina can shift position up to two years after retinal detachment surgery, with the use of a specific surgical liquid linked to this late displacement.

## Contribution

The study introduces IR homography to detect late retinal displacement and identifies perfluocarbon liquid as a potential factor influencing retinal plasticity.

## Key findings

- Retinal displacement was observed in 62% of patients during late follow-up after retinal detachment repair.
- Late displacement was positively associated with the use of perfluocarbon liquid during surgery.

## Abstract

To investigate a potential displacement of the retina in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair using infrared (IR) homography.

Prospective observational study with a two-year follow-up of patients with primary fovea-off reghmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Patients who developed macular structural disease during follow-up, including epiretinal membrane, and patients with insufficient image quality were excluded. Patients were imaged with IR scanning laser ophthalmology images at 1 and 24 months after pars plana vitrectomy and sulphur hexafluoride tamponade for RRD. Using custom software, the two IR images from the separate follow-up visits were superimposed to generate IR homography images. Proper alignment was ensured using choroidal and optic nerve landmarks. The main outcome measure was misalignment of the major retinal vessel arcades on IR homography.

36 patients completed the follow-up. 13 patients with a median age of 62 years (IQR = 11) were included. Retinal displacement between the 1st and 24th postoperative month was found in 8 patients (62%). Inter-grader agreement was κ = 0.831 (SE: 0.16), (p = 0.002). The direction of displacement occurred inferiorly in n = 5 cases (63%) and superiorly in n = 3 cases (38%). Use of perfluocarbon liquid was positively associated with late displacement (ϕ = 0.675, (p = 0.015).

This proof-of-concept study found retinal displacement in the late follow-up after retinal detachment repair using a validated method designated IR homography. Use of perfluocarbon liquid may have a long-lasting effect on the plasticity of the retina, warranting future investigation.

It is well known that the retina may displace from its original position on the retinal pigment epithelium during and immediately after surgery for retinal detachment, but it has not yet been established whether the retina continues to displace in the late postoperative period.

It is well known that the retina may displace from its original position on the retinal pigment epithelium during and immediately after surgery for retinal detachment, but it has not yet been established whether the retina continues to displace in the late postoperative period.

By superimposing infrared images from the 1st and 24th months after retinal reattachment surgery and excluding patients who developed structural macular disease, we found a displacement of the retina in 62% of patients, and late displacement was positively associated with the use of perfluocarbon liquid.Late displacement of the retina after retinal detachment surgery is a new finding that helps elucidate the pathophysiology of retinal detachment, and use of perfluocarbon liquid may have a long-lasting effect on retinal plasticity.

By superimposing infrared images from the 1st and 24th months after retinal reattachment surgery and excluding patients who developed structural macular disease, we found a displacement of the retina in 62% of patients, and late displacement was positively associated with the use of perfluocarbon liquid.

Late displacement of the retina after retinal detachment surgery is a new finding that helps elucidate the pathophysiology of retinal detachment, and use of perfluocarbon liquid may have a long-lasting effect on retinal plasticity.