Purpose: As some surgical procedures have been shown to increase postoperative flare values and thus contribute to blood-ocular barrier breakdown, retinal reattachment surgery might influence the risk of developing proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Therefore, we investigated whether postoperative aqueous flare values are a surrogate marker for the development of postoperative PVR. Methods: We prospectively included 195 patients with primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and measured aqueous laser flare preoperatively, and at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Postoperative PVR was defined as reoperation for redetachment due to PVR membranes, within 6 months of initial surgery. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined whether higher postoperative flare values were associated with an increased risk of developing PVR later on. Results: Reoperation for postoperative PVR was needed in 12 (6.2%) patients; in 18 (9.2%), reoperation was not related to PVR. The median flare value for patients who would develop PVR was significantly higher than that of patients who would not develop PVR, both at 2 weeks (p = 0.001) and 6 weeks (p < 0.001) postoperatively. Logistic regression analyses showed that a higher flare value significantly increased the odds of developing PVR, either at 2 weeks [odds ratio (OR) 1.027; 95% CI: 1.010–1.044] or 6 weeks (OR 1.076; 95% CI: 1.038–1.115). Conclusion: Flare values both at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively seem a good surrogate marker in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the development of postoperative PVR but have only a modest positive predictive value. The 2-week value would be more useful in terms of early recognition of high-risk patients and hence give the possibility to better study effects of treatment methods.

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doi.org/10.1111/aos.13560, hdl.handle.net/1765/111212
Acta Ophthalmologica
Department of Ophthalmology

Mulder, V., van Dijk, E., van Meurs, I.A. (Ida A.), La Heij, E. C., & van Meurs, J. (2018). Postoperative aqueous humour flare as a surrogate marker for proliferative vitreoretinopathy development. Acta Ophthalmologica, 96(2), 192–196. doi:10.1111/aos.13560