Spectral domain optical coherence tomography used to view and quantify choroidal vascular congestion in new subretinal fluid following encircling scleral buckling

Known complications of scleral buckling surgery for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment include choroidal detachment, vortex vein compression and anterior segment ischemia. Post-operative persistent subretinal fluid following scleral buckling surgery is thought to occur in as many as 55% of cases. Likely mechanisms include impaired retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) function, altered subretinal fluid composition, choroidal ischemia, incomplete drainage of subretinal fluid and altered choroidal blood flow. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography, laser Doppler velocimetry and scanning laser Doppler flowmetry have showed altered choroidal blood flow, pulsatile ocular blood flow and choroidal venous drainage after scleral buckling.