RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high-definition cross-sectional images of the choroid. Information on alterations in choroidal thickness (CT) after scleral buckling surgery (SBS) is rare. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical charts of 122 patients (122 eyes) who underwent SBS for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with a follow-up ≥ 6 months were included. Postoperative EDI-OCT images concerning CT were evaluated 1 week, 1 month and 6 months postoperatively in 4 groups: group 1 cerclage + cryopexy (n = 39 eyes), group 2 cerclage + cryopexy + sponge (n = 28 eyes), group 3 SBS + subretinal fluid drainage (SRD) (n = 25 eyes) and group 4 SBS + sponge + SRD (n = 30 eyes). Subfoveal CT was compared between the groups and with the non-operated fellow eye. RESULTS: Subfoveal CT in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 was thicker 1 week postoperatively. There were no significant differences between the groups or when comparing the operated eye with the fellow eye 1 and 6 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in subfoveal CT 1 and 6 months after SBS between the eye with macula-off RRD and the fellow eye. The use of a sponge or SRD induced no differences concerning subfoveal CT.