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Owsley C, Swain TA, McGwin G, Bernard MM, Clark ME, Curcio CA. Repeatability of Rod-Mediated Dark Adaptation Testing in Normal Aging and Early and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Curr Eye Res 2024; 49:725-730. [PMID: 38439539 PMCID: PMC11199118 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2024.2326077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The vulnerability of rod photoreceptors in aging and early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been well documented. Rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is a measure of the recovery of light sensitivity in rod photoreceptors following a bright light. Delays in RMDA during early and intermediate AMD have been widely reported. For RMDA's promise as an outcome for trials targeted at early and intermediate AMD to be realized, excellent test-retest reliability, its repeatability, must be established. METHODS Test-retest performance in a commonly used RMDA test based on the rod intercept time metric (RIT) was evaluated in participants with early and intermediate AMD and with normal retinal aging with testing approximately 2 weeks apart. The test target was placed at 5° eccentricity superior to the foveal center, an area with maximal rod loss in aging and AMD. Disease severity was identified by a trained and masked grader of fundus photographs using both the AREDS 9-step and Beckman classification systems. Bland-Altman plots and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) evaluated repeatability. RESULTS The analysis sample consisted of 37 older adults (mean age 76 years, standard deviation 5), with approximately one-third of the sample in each of three groups - normal aging, early AMD, and intermediate AMD. For the total sample, the ICC was 0.98. For individual AMD groups for both AREDS 9-step and Beckman classifications, the ICCs were also very high ranging from 0.82 to 0.99. CONCLUSION We demonstrated that RMDA testing using the RIT metric has excellent repeatability when target location is at 5° in studying older adults from normal aging to intermediate AMD, suggesting the reliable use of this functional measure in trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Thomas A. Swain
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gerald McGwin
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mary Margaret Bernard
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mark E. Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Haj Najeeb B, Schmidt-Erfurth U. The potential key role of choroidal non-perfusion and rod degeneration in the pathogenesis of macular neovascularization type 3. Eye (Lond) 2024; 38:1836-1839. [PMID: 38499856 PMCID: PMC11226597 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-024-03034-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Macular neovascularization type 3 (MNV3) is a multifactorial disease with distinct epidemiological, clinical, pathomorphological and topographical characteristics. This review of the literature discusses the latest experimental and clinical outcomes that could explain the pathogenesis of retinal neovascularization. Although patients with MNV3 are usually older than those with MNV1 or 2, their lesions do not coexist with, precede, or follow other types in the same eye. The regional distribution of MNV3 lesions is characterized as confined to the parafoveal macula without any involvement of the rod-free foveal area. Focal outer retinal atrophy and choroidal non-perfusion are the main structural features that occur prior to the development of retinal neovascularization. Also, histological and experimental studies of MNV3 and other non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration diseases complicated with MNV3-like lesions strongly suggest rod degeneration contributes to the pathogenesis. Therefore, the retinal neovascularization in MNV3 has a different pathogenesis from the choroidal neovascularization in MNV1 and 2 and emerging evidence indicates that choroidal non-prefusion and rod degeneration play a key role in the pathogenesis of MNV3. Accordingly, we suggest a sequence of pathological events that start with choroidal non-perfusion due to advanced age followed by hypoxia of the outer retina at the parafoveal area. This induces a remarkable degeneration of rods that triggers the growth of retinal neovascularization due to the imbalance of the angiogenic factors in the outer retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Haj Najeeb
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth
- Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Fu DJ, Bagga P, Naik G, Glinton S, Faes L, Liefers B, Lima R, Wignall G, Keane PA, Ioannidou E, Ribeiro Reis AP, McKeown A, Scheibler L, Patel PJ, Moghul I, Pontikos N, Balaskas K. Pegcetacoplan Treatment and Consensus Features of Geographic Atrophy Over 24 Months. JAMA Ophthalmol 2024; 142:548-558. [PMID: 38722644 PMCID: PMC11082756 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2024.1269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Importance Despite widespread availability and consensus on its advantages for detailed imaging of geographic atrophy (GA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) might benefit from automated quantitative OCT analyses in GA diagnosis, monitoring, and reporting of its landmark clinical trials. Objective To analyze the association between pegcetacoplan and consensus GA SD-OCT end points. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a post hoc analysis of 11 614 SD-OCT volumes from 936 of the 1258 participants in 2 parallel phase 3 studies, the Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal APL-2 Therapy With Sham Injections in Patients With Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (OAKS) and Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal APL-2 Therapy With Sham Injections in Patients With Geographic Atrophy (GA) Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (DERBY). OAKS and DERBY were 24-month, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled studies conducted from August 2018 to July 2020 among adults with GA with total area 2.5 to 17.5 mm2 on fundus autofluorescence imaging (if multifocal, at least 1 lesion ≥1.25 mm2). This analysis was conducted from September to December 2023. Interventions Study participants received pegcetacoplan, 15 mg per 0.1-mL intravitreal injection, monthly or every other month, or sham injection monthly or every other month. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was the least squares mean change from baseline in area of retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy in each of the 3 treatment arms (pegcetacoplan monthly, pegcetacoplan every other month, and pooled sham [sham monthly and sham every other month]) at 24 months. Feature-specific area analysis was conducted by Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) regions of interest (ie, foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal). Results Among 936 participants, the mean (SD) age was 78.5 (7.22) years, and 570 participants (60.9%) were female. Pegcetacoplan, but not sham treatment, was associated with reduced growth rates of SD-OCT biomarkers for GA for up to 24 months. Reductions vs sham in least squares mean (SE) change from baseline of retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy area were detectable at every time point from 3 through 24 months (least squares mean difference vs pooled sham at month 24, pegcetacoplan monthly: -0.86 mm2; 95% CI, -1.15 to -0.57; P < .001; pegcetacoplan every other month: -0.69 mm2; 95% CI, -0.98 to -0.39; P < .001). This association was more pronounced with more frequent dosing (pegcetacoplan monthly vs pegcetacoplan every other month at month 24: -0.17 mm2; 95% CI, -0.43 to 0.08; P = .17). Stronger associations were observed in the parafoveal and perifoveal regions for both pegcetacoplan monthly and pegcetacoplan every other month. Conclusions and Relevance These findings offer additional insight into the potential effects of pegcetacoplan on the development of GA, including potential effects on the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptors. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT03525600 and NCT03525613.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun Jack Fu
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pallavi Bagga
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gunjan Naik
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Glinton
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Livia Faes
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bart Liefers
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rosana Lima
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Georgina Wignall
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pearse A. Keane
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Estelle Ioannidou
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Paula Ribeiro Reis
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Praveen J. Patel
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ismail Moghul
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Balaskas
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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Voichanski S, Bousquet E, Abraham N, Santina A, Mafi M, Fossataro C, Sadda S, Sarraf D. En Face Optical Coherence Tomography Illustrates the Trizonal Distribution of Drusen and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits in the Macula. Am J Ophthalmol 2024; 261:187-198. [PMID: 38218515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2023.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the topographic distribution of macular drusen and subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) using single-capture en face spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging. DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Analysis of 33 eyes of 20 patients with evidence of SDDs. Structural en face OCT images were reconstructed using a 40-µm-thick slab positioned from 48 to 88 µm above the Bruch membrane. The Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid and a rod/cone density map were overlaid on the en face OCT images, and the distribution of different subtypes of SDDs and macular drusen were assessed. RESULTS A total of 31 eyes (94%) showed a trizonal distribution pattern of drusen and SDDs. Whereas small to large drusen tended to aggregate in the central circle, dot SDDs predominated in the inner ring and the inner portion of the outer ring of the ETDRS grid and ribbon SDDs localized to the outer ring and outside the ETDRS grid. Of note, drusen colocalized to the region of greatest cone density, whereas ribbon SDDs colocalized to the area of greatest rod density. The dot SDDs mapped to the intermediate region with mixed rod and cone representation. CONCLUSION Dot and ribbon subtypes of SDDs and macular drusen show a characteristic trizonal distribution. The locations of these lesions colocalize according to the different densities of the cones and rods in the retina and may reflect varying pathophysiological activities of these photoreceptor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilo Voichanski
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA; Vitreoretinal Division, Ophthalmology Department, Shaare Zedek Medical Center (S.V.), Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Elodie Bousquet
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA; University of Paris Cité; Department of Ophthalmology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (E.B.), Paris, France
| | - Neda Abraham
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ahmad Santina
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mostafa Mafi
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Claudia Fossataro
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA; Ophthalmology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (C.F.), Rome, Italy; Ophthalmology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS (C.F.), Rome, Italy
| | - SriniVas Sadda
- Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Los Angeles (S.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Sarraf
- Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (S.V., E.B., N.A., A.S., M.M., C.F., D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA; Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center (D.S.), Los Angeles, California, USA.
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5
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Emamverdi M, Vatanatham C, Fasih-Ahmad S, Wang Z, Mishra Z, Jain A, Ganegoda A, Clark ME, Habibi A, Ashrafkhorasani M, Owsley C, Curcio CA, Hu ZJ, Sadda SR. Probing Deposit-Driven Age-Related Macular Degeneration Via Thicknesses of Outer Retinal Bands and Choroid: ALSTAR2 Baseline. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:17. [PMID: 38717424 PMCID: PMC11090139 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.5.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose We aimed to identify structural differences in normal eyes, early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and intermediate AMD eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a well-characterized, large cross-sectional cohort. Methods Subjects ≥ 60 years with healthy normal eyes, as well as early or intermediate AMD were enrolled in the Alabama Study on Age-related Macular Degeneration 2 (ALSTAR2; NCT04112667). Using Spectralis HRA + OCT2, we obtained macular volumes for each participant. An auto-segmentation software was used to segment six layers and sublayers: photoreceptor inner and outer segments, subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs), retinal pigment epithelium + basal lamina (RPE + BL), drusen, and choroid. After manually refining the segmentations of all B-scans, mean thicknesses in whole, central, inner and outer rings of the ETDRS grid were calculated and compared among groups. Results This study involved 502 patients, 252 were healthy, 147 had early AMD, and 103 had intermediate AMD eyes (per Age-Related Eye Disease Study [AREDS] 9-step). Intermediate AMD eyes exhibited thicker SDD and drusen, thinner photoreceptor inner segments, and RPE compared to healthy and early AMD eyes. They also had thicker photoreceptor outer segments than early AMD eyes. Early AMD eyes had thinner photoreceptor outer segments than normal eyes but a thicker choroid than intermediate AMD eyes. Using the Beckman scale, 42% of the eyes initially classified as early AMD shifted to intermediate AMD, making thickness differences for photoreceptor outer segments and choroid insignificant. Conclusions With AMD stages, the most consistent structural differences involve appearance of drusen and SDD, followed by RPE + BL thickness, and then thickness of photoreceptor inner and outer segments. Structural changes in the transition from aging to intermediate AMD include alterations in the outer retinal bands, including the appearance of deposits on either side of the RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Emamverdi
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
- Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | | | | | - Ziyuan Wang
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | - Zubin Mishra
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | - Anjal Jain
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | | | - Mark E. Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Abbas Habibi
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
- Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Maryam Ashrafkhorasani
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
- Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Zhihong J. Hu
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
| | - SriniVas R. Sadda
- Doheny Eye Institute, Pasadena, California, United States
- Doheny Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Curcio CA, Kar D, Owsley C, Sloan KR, Ach T. Age-Related Macular Degeneration, a Mathematically Tractable Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:4. [PMID: 38466281 PMCID: PMC10916886 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.3.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A progression sequence for age-related macular degeneration onset may be determinable with consensus neuroanatomical nomenclature augmented by drusen biology and eye-tracked clinical imaging. This narrative review proposes to supplement the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (sETDRS) grid with a ring to capture high rod densities. Published photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) densities in flat mounted aged-normal donor eyes were recomputed for sETDRS rings including near-periphery rich in rods and cumulatively for circular fovea-centered regions. Literature was reviewed for tissue-level studies of aging outer retina, population-level epidemiology studies regionally assessing risk, vision studies regionally assessing rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA), and impact of atrophy on photopic visual acuity. The 3 mm-diameter xanthophyll-rich macula lutea is rod-dominant and loses rods in aging whereas cone and RPE numbers are relatively stable. Across layers, the largest aging effects are accumulation of lipids prominent in drusen, loss of choriocapillary coverage of Bruch's membrane, and loss of rods. Epidemiology shows maximal risk for drusen-related progression in the central subfield with only one third of this risk level in the inner ring. RMDA studies report greatest slowing at the perimeter of this high-risk area. Vision declines precipitously when the cone-rich central subfield is invaded by geographic atrophy. Lifelong sustenance of foveal cone vision within the macula lutea leads to vulnerability in late adulthood that especially impacts rods at its perimeter. Adherence to an sETDRS grid and outer retinal cell populations within it will help dissect mechanisms, prioritize research, and assist in selecting patients for emerging treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Deepayan Kar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Kenneth R. Sloan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Thomas Ach
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Oertli JM, Pfau K, Scholl HPN, Jeffrey BG, Pfau M. Establishing Fully-Automated Fundus-Controlled Dark Adaptometry: A Validation and Retest-Reliability Study. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2023; 12:18. [PMID: 38112496 PMCID: PMC10732091 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.12.12.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to establish and validate a novel fundus-controlled dark-adaptometry method. Methods We developed a custom dark-adaptometry software for the S-MAIA device using the open-perimetry-interface. In the validation-substudy, participants underwent dark-adaptometry testing with a comparator device (MonCvONE, 59% rhodopsin bleach, cyan and red stimuli centered at 2 degrees, 4 degrees, and 6 degrees eccentricity). Following a brief break (approximately 5 minutes), the participants were bleached again and underwent dark-adaptometry testing with the S-MAIA device (same loci). In the retest reliability-substudy, participants were tested twice with the S-MAIA device (same loci as above). Nonlinear curve fitting was applied to extract dark-adaptation curve parameters. Validity and repeatability were summarized in terms of the mean bias and 95% limits of agreement (LoAs). Results In the validation-substudy (N = 20 participants, median age interquartile range [IQR] 31.5 years [IQR = 25.8, 62.0]), measures of rod-mediated dark-adaptation showed little to no between method differences for the cone-rod-break-time (bias 95% confidence interval [95% CI] of +0.1 minutes [95% CI = -0.6 to 0.8]), rod-intercept-time (-0.23 minutes [95% CI = -1.38 to 0.93]), and S2 slope (-0.01 LogUnits/minutes [95% CI = -0.02 to -0.01]). In the retest reliability-substudy (N = 10 participants, 32.0 years [95% CI = 27.0, 57.5]), the corresponding LoAs were (cone-rod-break-time) -3.94 to 2.78 minutes, (rod-intercept-time) -4.55 to 3.11 minutes, and (S2 slope [rate-limited component of rod recovery]) -0.03 to 0.03 LogUnits/minutes. The LoAs for the steady-state cone and rod thresholds were -0.28 to 0.33 LogUnits and -0.34 to 0.28 LogUnits. Conclusions The devised fundus-controlled dark-adaptometry method yields valid and reliable results. Translational Relevance Fundus-controlled dark-adaptometry solves the critical need for localized testing of the visual cycle and retinoid transfer in eyes with unstable fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannine M. Oertli
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Pfau
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hendrik P. N. Scholl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Brett G. Jeffrey
- Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maximilian Pfau
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Owsley C, Swain TA, Kar D, Curcio CA. Rod mediated dark adaptation, a functional test for early and intermediate AMD outcomes. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2023; 19:1-5. [PMID: 38370915 PMCID: PMC10869142 DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2023.2287178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
| | - Thomas A. Swain
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
| | - Deepayan Kar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
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9
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Berlin A, Matney E, Jones SG, Clark ME, Swain TA, McGwin G, Martindale RM, Sloan KR, Owsley C, Curcio CA. Discernibility of the Interdigitation Zone (IZ), a Potential Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Biomarker for Visual Dysfunction in Aging. Curr Eye Res 2023; 48:1050-1056. [PMID: 37539829 PMCID: PMC10592305 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2023.2240547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Photoreceptor (PR) outer segments, retinal pigment epithelium apical processes, and inter-PR matrix contribute to the interdigitation zone (IZ) of optical coherence tomography (OCT). We hypothesize that this interface degrades over adulthood, in concert with a delay of rod mediated dark adaptation (RMDA). To explore this idea, we determined IZ discernibility and RMDA in younger and older adults. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, eyes of 20 young (20-30 years) and 40 older (≥60 years) participants with normal maculas according to the AREDS 9-step grading system underwent OCT imaging and RMDA testing at 5° superior to the fovea. Custom FIJI plugins enabled analysis for IZ discernibility at 9 eccentricities in 0.5 mm steps on one single horizontal B-scan through the fovea. Locations with discernible IZ met two criteria: visibility on B-scans and a distinct peak on a longitudinal reflectivity profile. The frequency of sites meeting both criteria was compared between both age groups and correlated with rod intercept time (RIT). RESULTS The median number of locations with discernible IZ was significantly higher (foveal, 4 vs. 0, p = 0.0099; extra-foveal 6 vs. 0, p < 0.001) in eyes of young (26 ± 3 years) compared to older (73 ± 5 years) participants. For the combined young and older sample, the higher frequency of discernible IZ was correlated with shorter RIT (faster dark adaptation) (rs = -0.56, p < 0.0001). This association was significant within young eyes (rs = -0.54; p = 0.0134) and not within older eyes (rs = -0.29, p = 0.706). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that the interface between outer segments and apical processes degrades in normal aging, potentially contributing to delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation. More research is needed to verify an age-related association between IZ discernibility and rod-mediated dark adaptation. If confirmed in a large sample, IZ discernibility might prove to be a valuable biomarker and predictor for visual function in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Berlin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
- University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emily Matney
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Skyler G. Jones
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Mark E. Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Thomas A Swain
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Gerald McGwin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL USA
| | - Richard M. Martindale
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Kenneth R. Sloan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
| | - Christine A Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, USA
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Fasih-Ahmad S, Wang Z, Mishra Z, Vatanatham C, Clark ME, Swain TA, Curcio CA, Owsley C, Sadda SR, Hu ZJ. Potential Structural Biomarkers in 3D Images Validated by the First Functional Biomarker for Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration - ALSTAR2 Baseline. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.09.10.23295309. [PMID: 37745353 PMCID: PMC10516097 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.10.23295309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Purpose While intermediate and late age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) have been widely investigated, rare studies were focused on the pathophysiologic mechanism of early AMD. Delayed rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA) is the first functional biomarker for incident early AMD. The status of outer retinal bands on optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be potential imaging biomarkers and the purpose is to investigate the hypothesis that the integrity of interdigitation zone (IZ) may provide insight into the health of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in early AMD. Methods We establish the structure-function relationship between ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity and RMDA, and IZ integrity and RMDA in a large-scale OCT dataset from eyes with normal aging (n=237), early AMD (n=138), and intermediate AMD (n=101) by utilizing a novel deep-learning-derived algorithm with manual correction when needed to segment the EZ and IZ on OCT B-scans (57,596 B-scans), and utilizing the AdaptDx device to measure RMDA. Results Our data demonstrates that slower RMDA is associated with less preserved EZ (r = -0.334; p<0.001) and IZ area (r = -0.591; p<0.001), and decreased IZ thickness (r = -0.434; p<0.001). These associations are not apparent when considering normal eyes alone. Conclusions The association with IZ area and RMDA in large-scale data is biologically plausible because retinoid availability and transfer at the interface attributed to IZ is rate-limiting for RMDA. This study supports the hypothesis that the IZ integrity provides insight into the health of photoreceptors and RPE in early AMD and is a potential new imaging biomarker.
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Kar D, Corradetti G, Swain TA, Clark ME, McGwin G, Owsley C, Sadda SR, Curcio CA. Choriocapillaris Impairment Is Associated With Delayed Rod-Mediated Dark Adaptation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2023; 64:41. [PMID: 37768273 PMCID: PMC10540875 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.12.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Progress toward treatment and prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) requires imaging end points that relate to vision. We investigated choriocapillaris flow signal deficits (FD%) and visual function in eyes of individuals aged ≥60 years, with and without AMD. Methods One eye of each participant in the baseline visit of the Alabama Study on Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration 2 (ALSTAR2; NCT04112667) was studied. AMD presence and severity was determined using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) grading system. FD% was quantified using macular spectral domain optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) scans. Vision tests included rod-mediated dark adaptation (RMDA), best-corrected visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity (photopic and mesopic), and microperimetric light sensitivity (scotopic, mesopic, and photopic). Presence of subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) was determined using multimodal imaging. Results In 410 study eyes of 410 participants (mean [SD] age = 71.7 years [5.9]), FD% was higher in early AMD (mean [SD] = 54.0% [5.5], N = 122) and intermediate AMD (59.8% [7.4], N = 92), compared to normal (52.1% [5.3], N = 196) eyes. Among visual functions evaluated, RMDA showed the strongest association with FD% (r = 0.35, P < 0.0001), followed by contrast sensitivity (r = -0.22, P < 0.0001). Eyes with SDD had worse FD% (58.3% [7.4], N = 87), compared to eyes without SDD (53.4% [6.0], N = 323, P = < 0.0001). Conclusions Choriocapillaris FD% were associated with AMD severity and with impaired vision, especially RMDA. Reduced metabolic transport and exchange across the choriocapillaris-Bruch's membrane retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) complex, a causal factor for high-risk soft drusen formation, also may impair photoreceptor sustenance from the circulation. This includes retinoid resupply, essential to dynamic rod function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepayan Kar
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Giulia Corradetti
- Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Thomas A. Swain
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Mark E. Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Gerald McGwin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Cynthia Owsley
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - SriniVas R. Sadda
- Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Christine A. Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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Messinger JD, Brinkmann M, Kimble JA, Berlin A, Freund KB, Grossman GH, Ach T, Curcio CA. Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/65240. [PMID: 37306417 PMCID: PMC10795012 DOI: 10.3791/65240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
A progression sequence for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) learned from optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based multimodal (MMI) clinical imaging could add prognostic value to laboratory findings. In this work, ex vivo OCT and MMI were applied to human donor eyes prior to retinal tissue sectioning. The eyes were recovered from non-diabetic white donors aged ≥80 years old, with a death-to-preservation time (DtoP) of ≤6 h. The globes were recovered on-site, scored with an 18 mm trephine to facilitate cornea removal, and immersed in buffered 4% paraformaldehyde. Color fundus images were acquired after anterior segment removal with a dissecting scope and an SLR camera using trans-, epi-, and flash illumination at three magnifications. The globes were placed in a buffer within a custom-designed chamber with a 60 diopter lens. They were imaged with spectral domain OCT (30° macula cube, 30 µm spacing, averaging = 25), near-infrared reflectance, 488 nm autofluorescence, and 787 nm autofluorescence. The AMD eyes showed a change in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), with drusen or subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs), with or without neovascularization, and without evidence of other causes. Between June 2016 and September 2017, 94 right eyes and 90 left eyes were recovered (DtoP: 3.9 ± 1.0 h). Of the 184 eyes, 40.2% had AMD, including early intermediate (22.8%), atrophic (7.6%), and neovascular (9.8%) AMD, and 39.7% had unremarkable maculas. Drusen, SDDs, hyper-reflective foci, atrophy, and fibrovascular scars were identified using OCT. Artifacts included tissue opacification, detachments (bacillary, retinal, RPE, choroidal), foveal cystic change, an undulating RPE, and mechanical damage. To guide the cryo-sectioning, OCT volumes were used to find the fovea and optic nerve head landmarks and specific pathologies. The ex vivo volumes were registered with the in vivo volumes by selecting the reference function for eye tracking. The ex vivo visibility of the pathology seen in vivo depends on the preservation quality. Within 16 months, 75 rapid DtoP donor eyes at all stages of AMD were recovered and staged using clinical MMI methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Messinger
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
| | - Max Brinkmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Zurich
| | - James A Kimble
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
| | - Andreas Berlin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
| | - K Bailey Freund
- Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
| | | | - Thomas Ach
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn
| | - Christine A Curcio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine;
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