Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of peripheral lattice degeneration of myopic eyes before and after laser photocoagulation

Purpose: To investigate the microstructural characteristics of lattice degenerations before and after laser photocoagulation in myopic eyes by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Twenty-five eyes of 25 consecutive patients at the High Myopia Clinic of the National Taiwan University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Myopic eyes with peripheral lattice degeneration were enrolled in the study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length measurement, color fundus photography was performed. SD-OCT analyses on the lattice degeneration were performed before and after prophylactic laser photocoagulation. All patients were followed for at least 6 months. Results: In total, 25 myopic eyes with peripheral lattice degenerations were studied. The mean refractive error was −9.92 ± 4.77 Diopters (D) with 21 (84%) of the eye being highly myopic (Over −6.0 D). The average axial length was 27.7 ± 1.86 mm. In these myopic eyes, retinal thinning was the most common finding (92%), followed by vitreoretinal traction (72%), retinoschisis (44%), vitreous membrane with deposits (36%), and retinal break with subretinal fluid (4%). A blunting effect of the vitreoretinal tractions was found after laser photocoagulation. Conclusion: To our knowledge we firstly investigated the pre- and post-laser photocoagulation microstructural changes using SD-OCT. It demonstrated a beneficial effect of retinoplasty, which released vitreoretinal tractions after laser photocoagulation. Combined with the findings of subtle microstructural retinal breaks and subretinal fluid, early prophylactic laser treatment warrants sincere consideration in these myopic eyes.