A New Era in Early Postoperative OCT: Swept-Source Versus Spectral-Domain in Gas-Filled Eyes

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Objectives: This study aims to compare the imaging performance of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) in the early postoperative assessment of patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery with intraocular gas or air tamponade. Methods: Seventeen eyes of 17 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with either sulfur hexafluoride (SF6, 20%) or air tamponade were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent OCT imaging on postoperative day 1 using both the SD-OCT system and the SS-OCT platform, without pharmacological mydriasis. Images were independently evaluated by two experienced ophthalmologists based on the ability to delineate four prespecified anatomical layers: inner retinal layers, ellipsoid zone (EZ), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid. Images were classified as adequate quality if two or more of these structures were identifiable. Results: SS-OCT provided adequate-quality images in all 17 eyes (100%), with complete visualization of the inner retinal layers, EZ, RPE, and choroid in 15 eyes (88.2%). In contrast, SD-OCT yielded adequate-quality images in only three of 17 eyes (17.6%), demonstrating marked signal attenuation, interface artifacts, and inability to resolve deeper retinal structures in most cases. No difference in imaging performance was observed between SF6 and air tamponade subgroups. Conclusions: SS-OCT demonstrates markedly superior imaging performance in gas-filled eyes on postoperative day 1 compared to SD-OCT, primarily attributable to its longer wavelength, reduced sensitivity roll-off, and superior penetration through optically challenging media. These findings suggest that SS-OCT may offer meaningful advantages for early postoperative monitoring following vitreoretinal surgery with tamponade; confirmation in larger prospective cohorts with clinical-outcome correlation is warranted before it can be recommended as the preferred modality.

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