Risk factors for ellipsoid zone integrity after macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair

Abstract Background: ellipsoid zone (EZ) layer plays a vital role in visual performance of human retina, hereby we try to find some risk factors for EZ integrity after primary macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) repair. Methods: a retrospective cases study. Patients with macula-off RRD undergoing successful primary retinal repair surgery were reviewed and spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of them were analyzed. Comprehensive preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative clinical factors were screened. Results: A total of 118 patients (118 eyes) were enrolled in this study. The mean age of those patients was 52.16 years old (52.16 ±12.87 years). The follow-up time ranged from 0.1 to 84 months (10.21 ±14.81 months). 54 cases (45.76%) had their EZ fully reconstructed at final visit. The mid-quartile time of EZ reconstruction was 14.0 months (95% CI: 11.3 ~20.0 months). Multivariate proportional haphazard regression test revealed that the independent factors were: silicone oil tamponade (Hazard ratio=0.414, p=0.0400), posterior staphyloma (Hazard ratio=0.141, p=0.0021) and disorganization of retinal inner layer (Hazard ratio=0.167, p=0.0166). Conclusion: After successful retinal reattachment for macula-off retinal detachment, the mid-quartile time of EZ recovery was about 14 months. The independent risk factors for EZ recovery might include silicone oil tamponade, posterior staphyloma and disorganization of retinal inner layer.