Preoperative estimation of distance between retinal break and limbus with wide-field fundus imaging: Potential clinical utility for conventional scleral buckling

Objective :Accurate scleral marking of retinal breaks is essential for successful scleral buckling. This study aimed to investigate the use of wide-field fundus images obtained with an Optos for preoperative estimation of the distance from the limbus to the retinal breaks. Methods and analysis: This is a retrospective review of 29 eyes from 26 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who received scleral buckling with anatomically successful repair. They underwent wide-field fundus photography with Optos California. In the pre- and postoperative fundus images, we measured distances from the macula to the retinal tears (T_M), to the center of the vortex veins (V_M), to the optic disc (D_M), and to the posterior edge of the scleral buckle (B_M). Results: (BM-V_M) / D_M was significantly correlated with the distance from the limbus to the posterior edge of the scleral buckle that had been determined intraoperatively. (r = 0.705; p<0.001) We applied a regression line derived from this correlation with the value of (T_M -V_M) / D_M in order to calculate estimated distances between retinal breaks and the limbus. The calculated distances were all within the range of distances from the limbus to the anterior and posterior edges of the scleral buckles. Conclusion: Preoperative analysis of Optos images may be useful for estimating the distance from the limbus to retinal breaks, which might aid scleral marking during scleral buckling surgery.