Impaired Retinal Perfusion Resulting From Vitreoretinal Traction: A Mechanism of Retinal Vascular Insufficiency

Abstract

Background and objective: To demonstrate vitreoretinal traction as a mechanism of abnormal retinal vascular perfusion.

Patients and methods: Retrospective report of three cases demonstrating vitreoretinal traction concurrent with abnormal retinal perfusion. Subjects were retrospectively identified based on clinical records from two tertiary care retina subspecialty practices. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination and ancillary testing as necessary for their standard clinical care. Vascular perfusion was assessed by one or more methods, including wide-field fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Vitreoretinal traction was assessed by clinical examination; intraoperative surgical observations; and fundus imaging, including wide-field, red-free, and color images as well as OCT.

Results: Three cases are shown in which vitreoretinal traction was clearly documented and correlated with abnormal retinal vascular perfusion. Abnormal vascular perfusion correlated with the distribution of vessels affected by vitreoretinal traction in all cases. Vascular perfusion normalized in all cases after surgery was used to relieve vitreoretinal traction.

Conclusion: The authors demonstrate that vitreoretinal traction can alter retinal vascular perfusion in a reversible fashion. These results suggest that there can be a direct mechanical effect of vitreous traction on retinal vascular perfusion. Further advances in wide-field imaging, wide-field OCT, and OCTA will help better evaluate this cause of retinal vascular insufficiency.