ADVERSE EFFECT OF HENLE FIBER LAYER HEMORRHAGE CAUSED BY RETINAL ARTERIAL MACROANEURYSM RUPTURE ON RETINAL SENSITIVITY.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of Henle fiber layer hemorrhage (HFLh) on retinal sensitivity (RS) before and after displacement of the submacular hemorrhage (SMH) caused by retinal arterial macroaneurysm rupture. This retrospective study included 31 eyes undergoing vitrectomy for SMH. Eyes were grouped based on the presence or absence of HFLh (HFLh [+/-] group). Retinal sensitivity was assessed in the fovea and in the area of the HFLh present preoperatively. The HFLh (+) and HFLh (-) groups had 21 and 10 eyes, respectively. Both groups showed improved postoperative foveal RS (both P < 0.05), which was significantly higher in the HFLh (-) group ( P = 0.02). In the HFLh (+) group, RS was significantly lower in the affected eye when compared with the fellow eye ( P < 0.01), whereas in the HFLh (-) group, no significant difference was noted between both eyes ( P = 0.58). Despite the significant improvement in the postoperative RS in areas with preoperative HFLh ( P < 0.001), it remained lower than the RS of the fellow eye ( P < 0.05). SMH displacement improved RS regardless of HFLh presence, although the degree of improvement was limited in the presence of HFLh.