Abstract
PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate retinal nerve fiber layer circumpapillary optical coherence tomography to determine posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) status and to develop a clinically relevant PVD grading scale based on retinal nerve fiber layer circumpapillary optical coherence tomography to determine the incidence of PVD by age and association with vitreomacular traction disorders. METHODS: Ophthalmic images and medical records of patients with retinal diseases were retrospectively analyzed by three masked graders using retinal nerve fiber layer circumpapillary optical coherence tomography and macular optical coherence tomography. Based on PVD status, eyes were categorized into five newly defined PVD stages. RESULTS: Among 2002 eyes, PVD stages were as follows: A) 25 (1.25%); B) 725 (36.21%); C-) 248 (12.39%); C+) 151 (7.54%); D) 851 (42.51%); X) 2 (0.1%). Posterior vitreous detachment was correlated with advanced age (P < 0.0001). Limited separation or partial separation between lamella within the posterior vitreous cortex (Stage B) was noted early (68% of eyes <18 years). Overall, 34% of eyes >70 years did not exhibit complete PVD. Of 75 eyes with tractional vitreoretinal disorders, 64 (85.3%) were Stage C-/C+, identifying Stage C as the high-risk "complication" stage. CONCLUSION: Imaging analyses using retinal nerve fiber layer circumpapillary optical coherence tomography and macular optical coherence tomography scans in conjunction allow rapid assessment of the PVD stage. These techniques can assist clinicians and surgeons in counseling patients and planning surgical approaches. Observations confirmed the progression of PVD through predictable stages and the progression of PVD with age.