Bariatric Surgery Induces Retinal Thickening Without Affecting the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Independent of Diabetic Status

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Laiginhas, R (Author) Other; Guimaraes, M (Author) Other; Cardoso, P (Author) Other; Santos Sousa, H (Author) FMUP; John Preto (Author) Other; Nora, M (Author) Other; Chibante, J (Author) Other; Falcão-Reis F (Author) FMUP; Manuel Falcão (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Obesity Surgery

Vol. 30

Pages: 4877-4884

ISSN: 0960-8923

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-K5M

DOI: 10.1007/s11695-020-04904-7

Abstract (EN): Purpose Obese patients have neurodegeneration of the optic nerve demonstrated by decreased peripapillary nerve fiber layer. Whether bariatric surgery reverses this neurodegenerative process has not been explored. We aimed to evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery in the structure of the retina and optic nerve. Methods Multicentric observational study. Obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery were consecutively recruited and included in the study and evaluated before and 6-12 months after the intervention. The retinal structure was evaluated as retinal thickness in the different retinal layers in the foveal, perifoveal, and parafoveal regions using optical coherence tomography. Choroidal thickness and optic nerve retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were also evaluated. Results Eighty eyes from 40 participants were included. Globally, we found a significant thickening of the retina after bariatric surgery (foveal: 273.5 (21.5) mu m vs 280.0 (28.8) mu m,p < 0.001; parafoveal 332.4 +/- 17.8 mu m vs 336.6 +/- 15.9 mu m,p = 0.003; perifoveal: 293.4 +/- 13.8 mu m vs 295.7 +/- 14.9 mu m;p = 0.001), whereas no significant differences were found for the ganglion cell layer, choroid, or peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness. The retinal thickening was confined to inner retinal layers and was independent of the diabetic status of the patients. After multivariate adjustment, HbA1c variation, preoperative C-peptide, preoperative hypertension, preoperative OSA, and preoperative LDL and TG levels seem to be clinical predictors of retinal thickening. Conclusions We found a significant thickening of the retina after bariatric surgery that was independent of the diabetic status. The thickening was confined to inner retinal layers and may represent and improve perfusion. The peripapillary nerve fiber layer remained unchanged after the surgery.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8