Transient effect of suction on the retinal neurovasculature in myopic patients after small-incision lenticule extraction

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize retinal neurovasculature changes after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) in myopic patients. Setting: Ophthalmic Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China. Design: Prospective interventional study. Methods: The corrected distance visual acuity/uncorrected distance visual acuity, corrected intraocular pressure (CIOP), and corneal tomography were evaluated at baseline (PRE), postoperative day (POD) 1, and POD 7. Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thicknesses were measured. The vessel area densities (VADs, %), vessel skeleton densities (VSDs, %), vessel diameter index (VDI), and fractal dimensions (Dbox) of the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) were measured in a circular area (ϕ 2.5 mm) centered on the fovea. Results: A total of 38 myopic patients were recruited. The GCIPL thickness was increased after SMILE at POD 1 and POD 7 (P < .01) but no significant changes in the pRNFL thickness. The VAD, VSD, and Dbox of the SVP were decreased at POD 1 (P < .01), but not at POD 7. The VDI in small vessels of the SVP and DVP was decreased at POD 1 (P < .05) and increased at POD 7 (P < .05). Changes in CIOP were positively correlated with changes in the GCIPL thickness. Changes in CIOP were negatively correlated with changes in the VAD of small vessels and the Dbox of total vessels in the DVP. Changes in CIOP were negatively correlated with the VSD and VDI of small vessels in the DVP and changes in the VDI of big vessels in the SVP. Conclusions: The transient fluctuations in the retinal neurovasculature after SMILE may represent a characteristic homeostasis pattern in patients after refractive surgery.

Microvasculature alterations of peripapillary retina and macula in systemic lupus erythematosus patients without ocular involvement by optical coherence tomography angiography

“…7 Studies have shown that OCTA has low intravisit and intervisit blood flow index and vascular density variability. 15,20 Our findings demonstrated that the macular and peripapillary retinal microvascular networks were significantly reduced in SLE patients with longer disease durations, compared with NCs.…”

“…To evaluate the thickness of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, Zeiss Cirrus Angioplex OCTA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) was used to perform high-definition OCT, with a 512 × 128 scanning protocol. As described previously, 15 GCIPL thickness was measured using elliptic partitions, whereas peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was measured using quadrant partitions. The measurements were acquired from OCT reports (see Figure , Supplemental Digital Content 2 , http://links.lww.com/IAE/C138).…”

Comment on: Transient effect of suction on retinal neuro-vasculature in myopic patients after small-incision lenticule extraction

“…In the study by Liu et al, 1 they evaluated retinal tomography and vascular features after small-incision lenticule extraction. The postoperative evaluation was performed at day 1 and day 7.…”