Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Are There Any Changes in Measurements After Strabismus Surgery?

Purpose: To evaluate the possible hemodynamic changes following strabismus surgery via optical coherence tomography angiography.

Methods: Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients who underwent strabismus surgery in one eye were included in the study. Fellow eyes were used as a control group. The vessel densities of the superficial and deep capillary plexus and superficial and deep foveal avascular zones were measured preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively.

Results: The mean superficial and deep foveal avascular zones measurements were 0.84 ± 0.09 and 0.76 ± 1.13 mm, respectively. The mean vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus was 1.23 ± 0.12 and 11.13 ± 1.04 mm preoperatively in the 1- and 3-mm zones, respectively, whereas the mean vessel density of the deep capillary plexus was 1.13 ± 0.16 and 10.11 ± 1.28 mm preoperatively. Postoperatively, the mean superficial and deep foveal avascular zones changed to 0.20 ± 0.13 and 0.23 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. Postoperatively, the mean vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus changed to 1.47 ± 0.11 and 12.75 ± 1.10 mm, and the mean vessel density of the deep capillary plexus changed to 1.56 ± 0.12 and 13.91 ± 1.35 mm in 1- and 3-mm zones, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in vessel density measurements of the superficial and deep capillary plexus, and a statistically significant decrease in measurements of the superficial and deep foveal avascular zone postoperatively (P < .05). In the fellow eyes, there was no statistically significant change in any of the measurements (P > .05).

Conclusions: Following strabismus surgery, vessel density of the fovea may increase and the foveal avascular zone may decrease according to optical coherence tomography angiography measurements. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(2):95-100.].