Changes in the retinal vessel diameter, retinal nerve fiver layer thickness, and optic disc after vitrectomy

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To investigate the retinal vascular caliber, retinal nerve fiver layer thickness, and optic disc changes in patients after pars plana vitrectomy.Methods We examined 40 eyes in 40 patients who had undergone unilateral pars plana vitrectomy at before and 3 months, 6 months after operation. The diameters of central retinal arteries and veins were measured on retinal photographs. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) were calculated using the revised Parr‐Hubbard formula. Retinal nerve fiver layer thickness was obtained using Stratus optical coherence tomography. Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc was evaluated using stereo optic disc photoResults There were no significant differences between both eyes before operation. Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc significantly increased for 3 months and 6 months post‐operatively (p<0.01, p<0.01) and there was significant difference between operation eye and fellow eye at the same period (p<0.01, p<0.01). The changes of CRAE and CRVE in operation eye were significantly larger than fellow eye at 6 months post‐operatively (p<0.01, p<0.01). The retinal nerve fiver layer thickness showed no significant changes.Conclusion Whereas no retinal nerve fiver layer thickness decrease was observed, vitrectomy induced changes in Cup‐to‐disc vertical ratios of optic disc and retinal vessel diameter for significant periods following surgery.