Quantitative measurement of retinal vascular diameter changes in the early postoperative period after strabismus surgery.

PURPOSE: To investigate quantitatively the retinal vascular diameter changes before and after strabismus surgery, analyzing the potential hemodynamic changes that may occur in the retinal circulation.

METHODS: Consecutive patients with horizontal strabismus who underwent strabismus surgery were prospectively enrolled. Color fundus photographs were taken of each eye before and 1 day after surgery. The retinal vessel diameters were measured using computer-assisted quantitative assessment software. Paired-sample t test was used to evaluate the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) before and 1 day after surgery. We also analyzed those changes in different subgroups according to surgical protocols.

RESULTS: A total of 217 eyes of 148 patients were included. Compared with the data before surgery, the mean CRAE significantly increased 1 day after surgery (P = 0.01), so did the AVR (P = 0.003). There was no significant difference with respect to CRVE (P = 0.43). The CRAE and AVR were not significantly different in the lateral rectus recession group.

CONCLUSIONS: Strabismus surgery on horizontal rectus muscles may change retinal hemodynamics by increasing the central retinal arteriolar diameter during the early postoperative period.