Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography in Vitreoretinal Surgery.

Introduction: The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the current situation with the use of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT), and to present our own experience with this technology.

Methodology: retrospective evaluation of case reports of typical pathologies of the retina which were resolved by means of standard pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with the use of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) integrated into the surgical microscope OPMI Lumera 700 / Rescan 700 (Zeiss). Auxiliary techniques: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was tested on ETDRS tables, biomicroscopy was performed with a 78D lens and optical coherence tomography (OCT) with a Zeiss Cirrus instrument. The operations were performed in retrobulbar anaesthesia, three-port 23G PPV and with the aid of the surgical unit Constellation (ALCON).

Results: we present three case reports of 2 women (pathology of type of disorder of the vitreoretinal interface) and 1 man (proliferative diabetic retinopathy), with an average age of 63 years. In the first 2 cases the observation period was 3 months, while the man with diabetic retinopathy was observed for 15 months. All surgical procedures with the use of iOCT were conducted without perioperative or postoperative complications. In all cases full anatomical success was achieved. In the first two cases BCVA improved substantially, and in the last case very good initial BCVA was stabilised over the long term.

Conclusion: The use of iOCT provides the surgeon with simultaneous control both in surgical manipulations in close proximity to the retina and also in detailed virtualisation of the finding on the ocular fundus. The result is an excellent perioperative overview, up-to-date information for the surgeon, higher precision of the procedure and thus also improved postoperative results.Key words: intraoperative optical coherence tomography, vitreoretinal surgery.