SUPRACHOROIDAL SPACE IN RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT ASSESSED WITH OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY: Implications for Potential Future Therapeutic Interventions.

Purpose: To comprehensively investigate the suprachoroidal space (SCS) in the context of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) using swept-source optical coherence tomography.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of 90 consecutive patients with a primary RRD. Baseline swept-source optical coherence tomography scans were graded for the presence and thickness of SCS. Available scans of the fellow eye were graded for comparison.

Results: Suprachoroidal space was visible in 31.6% (24/76) of gradable RRD scans, with a mean thickest location measuring 67.0 µ m (SD 25.9), mean thinnest location of 33.8 µ m (SD 11.1), and mean average thickness of 50.0 µ m (SD 16.8). In addition, the SCS was detectable in 28.3% (13/46) of available fellow eye scans, with a mean thickest location measuring 47.0 µ m (SD 41.7), thinnest location of 25.2 µ m (SD 27.6), and mean average thickness of 35.8 µ m (SD 31.4). A statistically significant difference was found between RRD and fellow eyes in all measurements of SCS thickness.

Conclusion: In RRD, the SCS serves as a crucial fluid reservoir influenced by dynamic shifts in intraocular hydrostatic and oncotic pressures. We found significant SCS engorgement in RRD eyes compared with fellow eyes, which may facilitate intra-SCS therapies such as suprachoroidal viscopexy or other pharmacologic interventions.