Association between blood-aqueous barrier disruption and extent of retinal detachment

Purpose To investigate the association between anatomical features of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and the extent of blood-aqueous barrier disorder measured by non-invasiv laser flare photometry. Methods Retrospective evaluation of consecutive patients with RRD that underwent surgery between November 2016 and October 2018. Descriptive evaluation of pre- and postoperative parameters and correlation to preoperative laser flare value, extent of retinal detachment and re-detachment rate were performed. Results 266 patients (mean age 62.73 +/- 10.40 years, 62.8% male) were included. Mean preoperative flare value was 11.0 +/- 11.9 pc/ms. In pseudophakia flare values were higher than in phakia (12.7 +/- 10.4 pc/ms versus 9.8 +/- 12.9 pc/ms; p = 0.042). Flare increased and correlated significantly with the number of affected retinal quadrants (Q) (1 Q 6.4 +/- 3.3 pc/ms; 2 Q 10.5 +/- 8.8 pc/ms; 3 Q 15.6 +/- 9.1 pc/ms; 4 Q 27.5 +/- 33.3 pc/ms; p < 0.001; r = 0.40). Macular status correlated significantly with flare values (macula on 8.6 +/- 7.1 pc/ms, off 13.1 +/- 15.0 pc/ms; p = 0.004; r = 0.17). Conclusion The level of objective tyndallometry in RRD seems to be influenced by lens status and extent of retinal detachment. Thus, the greater the affected retinal area is, the more blood-aqueous barrier disruption seems to be present.