Influence of Perfluorocarbon Liquid (LIQUID) During Pars Plana Vitrectomy on Retinal Vessel Displacement in Primary Macula-involving Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is an acute, sight threatening condition, resulting from the separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is caused by at least one retinal break and recruitment of intraocular fluid into the subretinal space. Surgical interventions for treating RRD include pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), which currently represents the most widely adopted surgical choice, scleral buckling (SB) and pneumatic retinopexy (PnR).

Significant visual loss is the main complaint of patients with macula-involving RRD (MIRD). Hence, the main outcomes of successful RRD surgery have historically been represented by postoperative anatomical retinal reattachment and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). However, despite successful surgery, patients with MIRD often report postoperative visual complaints of distortion such as metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and scotomas in their central visual field, with great variability.

Major advances in retinal imaging contributed to provide a better understanding of postoperative visual complaints after surgery for RRD. In particular, optical coherence tomography (OCT) highlighted drop-out of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) or outer and inner retinal folds in the macula area. However, only more recently, hyperautofluorescent lines, also called Retinal Vessel Printing (RVP), adjacent to the retinal blood vessels, were noted on autofluorescence imaging in patients who underwent RRD surgery. This finding is believed to be secondary to unintentional retinal displacement after RRD surgery and may serve as a surrogate anatomical marker of postoperative metamorphopsia and central scotomas.

Postoperative retinal displacement is potentially influenced by several variables including intraocular tamponade, adopted surgical technique, intraoperative use of perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) and postoperative posture. The effect of PFCL on retinal displacement is currently unknown due to lack of RCTs and significant limitations of previous research. Therefore, the aim of this RCT is to investigate the role of intraoperative PFCL on postoperative retinal displacement in patients with MIRD undergoing PPV with immediate postoperative face-down posture.

The investigators aim to evaluate whether intraoperative PFCL affects the incidence and patterns of postoperative retinal displacement. As secondary outcomes, this RCT will also investigate the effect of intraoperative use of PFCL on functional outcomes, e.g. BCVA, metamorphopsia and aniseikonia. All patients participating in the trial will be randomly allocated to having surgery either with or without the use of PFCL, and will be followed up regularly after surgery for up to 6 months.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years of age, or older.
• Diagnosis of primary MIRD with posterior vitreous detachment, and fovea off (confirmed with OCT)
• Surgeons' decision that the patient is eligible for using gas as postoperative tamponade.
• The surgeon is confident to proceed with surgery with or without the use of intraoperative PFCL

Exclusion criteria

• Previous RRD and/or RRD surgery in the study eye
• Decision to use adjunct scleral buckle
• Decision to use silicone oil as tamponade
• Retinal detachment with macula on
• Patients with other retinal pathologies causing permanent structural changes to the retina in the study eye, such as diabetic retinopathy (assessed above background, or any diabetic maculopathy), previous vascular occlusion (artery or vein occlusion), macula dystrophy, among others
• Previous vitreoretinal surgery in the study eye
• Inability to come for follow ups up to 3 months
• Inability to take FAF and OCT imaging due to neck stiffness or other medical issue
• Mental incapacity
• Patient is unwilling or unable to follow or comply with all study related procedures or to sign informed consent form.
• Contraindications for PFCL
• Previous enrollment in a clinical trial involving retinal diseases and/or treatments
• Media opacity leading to poor quality retinal images (not including post operative significant cataract. See section 7.11)
• Patient inability to posture following surgery