Correlation between Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness and Visual Acuity with Duration of Retinal Detachment

Purpose: To correlate outer nuclear layer thickness and visual acuity with duration of detachment. Design: It was a prospective interventional study. Method: The population consisted of patients treated for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Post RRD repair 45 patients were divided into three groups. Group A operated within 1 month of RRD, Group B within 1 - 3 months, and Group C after 3 months. ONL Thickness and Best corrected visual acuity was compared at 4 months. Statistical analysis: The variables were compared using unpaired t - test. These variables were correlated with duration of retinal detachment using Pearson?s correlation coefficient and ANOVA. Results: The difference in ONL thickness was significant between Group A and C (pless than0.001), Group B and C (p=0.049) but insignificant between Group A and B (p=0.246). The difference in BCVA was significant between Group A and B (p=0.028), between Group A and C (pless than0.001) and insignificant between Group B and C (p=0.052). With each day of RD there was 0.004 logMAR loss of vision. Inner Segment - Outer segment disruption and External limiting layer disruption was significant between Group A and B and Group A and C and insignificant between Group B and C. Conclusions: ONL restoration were better if operated within 3 months but BCVA was significantly better when operated within 1 month of retinal detachment. Other OCT parameters like IS - OS disruption, ELM disruption, intraretinal and sub retinal fluid post RD repair were associated with poorer BCVA and found more with longer duration of retinal detachment.