Evaluation of macular vessel density with OCTA in patients undergoing inferior oblique muscle surgery

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate pre- and postoperative macular vascular density changes in patients undergoing inferior oblique muscle surgery using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: 28 eyes of 16 patients who underwent inferior oblique muscle surgery were included in the study. Measurements were taken preoperatively (T0) and one day (PO1), 15 days (PO15) and 6 weeks (PO6w) after surgery. The vessel densities of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris (CCL) were measured by OCTA. Results: This study included 28 eyes of 16 patients. The mean age of the patients was 8.07±5.5 years (4-23 years). SCP and DCP mean vascular densities decreased significantly at PO1 and PO15 compared to T0, but increased at PO6w, reaching their initial levels. Mean CCL levels were lower at PO1 compared to all other measurements and reached their preop values at PO6w. Conclusion: The inferior oblique muscle insertion is known to be close to the macula and surgical interventions for this muscle may cause changes in macular vascular density. In our study, macular vascular density decreased in all parameters at PO1 compared to T0, but almost reached its preop levels at PO6w.