Ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography in FEVR: findings and its diagnostic ability

Advantages of the Utilization of Wide-Field OCT and Wide-Field OCT Angiography in Clinical Practice

Wide-field (WF) retinal imaging is becoming a standard diagnostic tool for diseases involving the peripheral retina. Technological progress elicited the advent of wide-field optical coherence tomography (WF-OCT) and WF-OCT angiography (WF-OCTA) examinations. This review presents the results of studies that analyzed the implementation of these procedures in clinical practice and refers to them as traditional and ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography (UWF-FA). A PUBMED search was performed using the terms WF-OCT OR WF-OCTA OR UWF-FA AND the specific clinical entity, and another search for diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), Coats disease, peripheral retinal telangiectasia, peripheral retinal degeneration, lattice degeneration, and posterior vitreous detachment. The analysis only included the studies in which the analyzed field of view for the OCT or OCTA exam was larger than 55 degrees. The evaluation of the extracted studies indicates that WF imaging with OCT and OCTA provides substantial information on retinal disorders involving the peripheral retina. Vascular diseases, such as DR or RVO, can be reliably evaluated using WF-OCTA with results superior to standard-field fluorescein angiography. Nevertheless, UWF-FA provides a larger field of view and still has advantages over WF-OCTA concerning the evaluation of areas of non-perfusion and peripheral neovascularization. Detailed information on the vascular morphology of peripheral changes should be obtained via WF-OCTA and not angiographic examinations. WF-OCT can serve as a valuable tool for the detection and evaluation of vitreoretinal traction, posterior vitreous detachment, and peripheral retinal degeneration, and guide therapeutic decisions on a patient's eligibility for surgical procedures.

Refractive Status and Biometric Characteristics of Children With Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy

Purpose

To compare biometric characteristics between patients with early-stage familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and healthy controls.

Methods

This case-control study included 50 FEVR eyes in stage 1-2 and 50 control eyes matched by age, gender and spherical equivalent (SE). Biometric parameters including axial length (AL), white-to-white diameter (WTW), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), pupil diameter, vitreous chamber depth, anterior and posterior corneal surface curvature radius (ACR and PCR), anterior lens surface curvature radius (ALR) and posterior lens surface curvature radius were measured using IOLMaster 700 and compared between cases and controls using paired t-test. Correlations between SE and biometric measures were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) in cases and controls.

Results

Both FEVR cases and matched controls had a mean age of 7.6 years, 48% female and mean SE of -5.3 D (80% myopia). Compared to controls, FEVR eyes had smaller AL (P = 0.009), WTW (P = 0.001), ACD (P < 0.001), and ALR (P = 0.03), but larger CCT (P = 0.02) and LT (P = 0.01). In FEVR eyes, SE was negatively correlated with AL (r = -0.79, P < 0.001), positively correlated with ACR (r = 0.29, P = 0.04) and PCR (r = 0.33, P = 0.02), whereas in controls, SE was negatively correlated with AL (r = -0.82, P < 0.001) and LT (r = -0.34, P = 0.02), positively correlated with ALR (r = 0.29, P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Patients at early stage of FEVR exhibited a unique eye morphology resembling ocular development arrest, which may help to develop screening and early detection tools for FEVR. In FEVR patients, myopia is very prevalent and significantly associated with corneal curvature increase.

The Characteristic of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Retinal Arteries Angle in Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy with Inner Retinal Layer Persistence

PURPOSE

To compare the angle of retinal arteries and macular vessel density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in early stage familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) patients with inner retinal layer (IRL) persistence with FEVR patients without IRL persistence and normal people.

METHODS

This study enrolled 113 early stage FEVR patients and 55 age-matched normal subjects. FEVR patients were divided into IRL group and non-IRL group based on the presence or absence of IRL in fovea. The angle of superior temporal and inferior temporal branch retinal arteries on ultra-wide-field fundus images were measured. Superficial and deep vessel density of whole image, fovea and parafovea, the area and perimeter of FAZ, A-circularity index (AI, perimeter/standard circle perimeter with equal area) and vessel density around the 300-μm width of the FAZ (FD), central macular thickness (CMT) on 3 mm × 3mm OCTA were measured.

RESULTS

30 FEVR patients in IRL group, 83 FEVR patients in non-IRL group, 55 normal people in control group were evaluated. BCVA were worst in IRL group (p < .001). The angle of retinal arteries was smaller in FEVR groups (p < .001) and were smallest in IRL group (p < .001). Superficial and deep vessel density of whole and parafovea area in FEVR patients were significantly lower than that in normal people (p < .05), AI were biggest (p = .01) and FD were smallest in IRL group (p < .001). CMT in IRL group were thicker than non-IRL group and control group (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Worse BCVA, smaller angle of retinal arteries (more vessels traction), lower macular vessel density, smaller and more irregular FAZ and thicker CMT were observed in FEVR patients with IRL persistence even in early stage.

Pattern of choroidal thickness in early-onset high myopia

Purpose

To explore the etiology and choroidal thickness (ChT) pattern in children with early-onset high myopia (eoHM).

Methods

Sixty children with eoHM and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in this study between January 2019 and December 2021. All children underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations including swept-source optical coherence tomography. ChT was measured in the subfoveal region and at 1000 μm and 2,500 μm nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior to the fovea.

Results

Overall, 120 eyes of 60 children with eoHM were examined (mean spherical equivalent, -8.88 ± 3.05 D; mean axial length, 26.07 ± 1.59 mm). Simple high myopia (SHM), familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), and Stickler syndrome (STL) were the most frequent etiologies of eoHM and were included in further ChT analysis. Adjusted the effect of SE, multivariate regression analysis showed that children with SHM had thinnest ChT at N2500 and I2500 among the subgroups (p = 0.039, p = 0.013). FEVR group showed thinner ChT at T2500 (p = 0.023), while STL patients exhibited thin ChT at all locations.

Conclusion

This study revealed that SHM, STL and FEVR was the most frequent etiology, and showed a distinctive pattern of ChT. Asymmetric nasal ChT thinning is a distinctive biomarker for SHM, asymmetric temporal ChT thinning might serve as a biomarker for FEVR, and symmetric diffuse thinning is more common in STL. These ChT patterns may provide a convenient, fast, and noninvasive strategy to differentiate the potential etiology of eoHM.

ULTRA-WIDEFIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN MILD FAMILIAL EXUDATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY

PURPOSE

To investigate ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF-OCTA) to detect and evaluate mild familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and compare the detective ratio of UWF-OCTA with ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography.

METHODS

The patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy were included in this study. UWF-OCTA, using a 24- × 20-mm montage, was performed for all patients. All images were independently tested for the presence of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy-associated lesions. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS V.24.0.

RESULTS

Forty-six eyes of 26 participants were included in the study. Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography was found to be greatly superior to ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in detecting peripheral retinal vascular abnormality ( P < 0.001) and peripheral retinal avascular zone ( P < 0.001). The detection rates of peripheral retinal vascular abnormality, peripheral retinal avascular zone, retinal neovascularization, macular ectopia, and temporal midperipheral vitreoretinal interface abnormality were comparable with ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography images ( P > 0.05). Furthermore, vitreoretinal traction (17/46, 37%) and small foveal avascular zone (17/46, 37%) were detected effectively on UWF-OCTA.

CONCLUSION

Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography is a reliable noninvasive tool to detect familial exudative vitreoretinopathy lesions, especially in mild patients or asymptomatic family members. The unique manifestation of UWF-OCTA offers an alternative to ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography for the screening and diagnosis of FEVR.

Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Pediatric Retinal Diseases

Indirect ophthalmoscopy and handheld retinal imaging are the most common and traditional modalities for the evaluation and documentation of the pediatric fundus, especially for pre-verbal children. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows for in vivo visualization that resembles histology, and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) allows for non-invasive depth-resolved imaging of the retinal vasculature. Both OCT and OCTA were extensively used and studied in adults, but not in children. The advent of prototype handheld OCT and OCTA have allowed for detailed imaging in younger infants and even neonates in the neonatal care intensive unit with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). In this review, we discuss the use of OCTA and OCTA in various pediatric retinal diseases, including ROP, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), Coats disease and other less common diseases. For example, handheld portable OCT was shown to detect subclinical macular edema and incomplete foveal development in ROP, as well as subretinal exudation and fibrosis in Coats disease. Some challenges in the pediatric age group include the lack of a normative database and the difficulty in image registration for longitudinal comparison. We believe that technological improvements in the use of OCT and OCTA will improve our understanding and care of pediatric retina patients in the future.

Wide-field Fundus Imaging and Fluorescein Angiography Findings in Various Pseudoretinoblastoma Conditions

PURPOSE

To report wide-field fundus imaging and fluorescein angiography findings in conditions mimicking retinoblastoma (pseudoretinoblastoma).

METHODS

The clinical and imaging records of 28 patients (36 eyes) imaged with RetCam 3 (Clarity Medical Systems, Inc) wide-field fundus photography and fluorescein angiography who were diagnosed as having various pseudoretinoblastoma disorders between February 2020 and August 2021 were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

Most patients were referred with suspicion of retinoblastoma. Other patients had unresolved eye conditions and received initial treatment elsewhere and they were referred later for exclusion of retinoblastoma. On RetCam fundus photography and fluorescein angiography, pseudoretinoblastoma conditions were diagnosed as Coats disease (9 eyes), congenital glaucoma (3 eyes), persistent fetal vasculature (3 eyes), familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (2 eyes), retinopathy of prematurity (2 eyes), myelinated retinal nerve fibers (2 eyes), optic nerve hypoplasia (2 eyes), oculocutaneous albinism (2 eyes), meridional fold (2 eyes), combined hamartoma of retina and retinal pigment epithelium (2 eyes), grouped congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (1 eye), retinal astrocytic hamartoma (1 eye), morning glory syndrome (1 eye), optic glioma (1 eye), giant choroidal nevus (1 eye), vasculitis (1 eye), and chorioretinitis (1 eye). RetCam imaging and fluorescein angiography demonstrated telangiectasias, microaneurysms, submacular exudation/fibrosis, capillary non-perfusion, and exudation posterior to telangiectasias in Coats disease. Hypofluorescent optic discs, peripheral non-perfusion, and vascular leakage were observed in congenital glaucoma. Large areas of capillary non-perfusion, poor foveal morphology/formation, elongated ciliary processes with hyperfluorescent central core, and hyperfluorescent fibrovascular stalk at the posterior pole were hallmarks of persistent fetal vasculature.

CONCLUSIONS

RetCam wide-field fundus imaging and fluorescein angiography play an important role in the diagnosis of conditions simulating retinoblastoma. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2023;60(1):60-74.].

ROP-like retinopathy in full/near-term newborns: A etiology, risk factors, clinical and genetic characteristics, prognosis and management

Purpose

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) like retinopathy (ROPLR) could occur in full/near-term newborns. The causes and clinical features are still largely elusive. This study focused on the risk factors, clinical and genetic characteristics, treatment and outcome, and prognosis of ROPLR.

Methods

A total of 47 consecutive full/near-term newborns during 2016–2017 with ROPLR were included. The clinical and genetic characteristics, treatment and outcome, prognosis, and potential underlying etiology of ROPLR were were analyzed.

Results

91 eyes of 47 infants were found to have ROPLR. The ROPLR regressed completely in 65.9% and partially in 20.9% of eyes without any interventions. Retinal changes of family exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) were allocated in 12 neonates (group A), perinatal hypoxia-ischemia were categorized in 17 neonates (group B), and the other 18 neonates were categorized in group C. Compared to those in group B/C, infants in group A had significantly more severe retinopathy (stage 4/5, p &lt; 0.001) and more treatments (p &lt; 0.00 risk factor 1).

Conclusions

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia might be a major risk factor for ROPLR, in which spontaneous regression was common. FEVR, confirmed by positive family findings and genetic testing, might be the second risk factor of ROPLR, in which retinopathy is more severe and treatment is needed.

HODD: A Manually Curated Database of Human Ophthalmic Diseases with Symptom Characteristics and Genetic Variants Towards Facilitating Quick and Definite Diagnosis

Ophthalmic diseases are disorders that affect the eyes. Hundreds of causal genes and biological pathways have been reported to be closely correlated with ophthalmic diseases. However, these information are scattered across various resources, which has hindered a thorough and deep understanding of ophthalmic diseases. In the present work, we proposed the Human Ophthalmic Diseases Database (HODD), which currently deposits 730 ophthalmic diseases and 653 related genes and is available at http://bio-bigdata.cn/HODD/ . The disease-related information and genes related to ophthalmic diseases were collected from the several well-known databases. To comprehensively understand the ophthalmic diseases, the basic information was provided for each disease, including disease description, related genes, gene location, ocular and extraocular effect of the disease, protein-protein interaction and disease-associated pathways. All these data were reorganized and made accessible through multiple entrances. We hope that HODD will facilitate studies on ophthalmic diseases. The workflow for the construction of the HODD (Human Ophthalmic Diseases Database, http://bio-bigdata.cn/HODD/ ) database.

FZD4 in a Large Chinese Population With Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy: Molecular Characteristics and Clinical Manifestations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to establish a genotype-phenotype correlation of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) caused by FZD4 gene mutations.

Methods

Six hundred fifty-one probands and their family members were recruited based on a clinical diagnosis of FEVR between 2015 and 2021 at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. Ocular examinations were performed in all participants. Targeted gene panel sequencing and whole-exome sequencing were performed in the probands, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the mutations and segregation analysis was performed in the family members.

Results

Fifty-one FZD4 mutations (24 novels and 27 known) were detected in 84 families. Of these 168 eyes with FEVR, the eyes at stages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 29 (17.3%), 15 (8.9%), 19 (11.3%), 55 (32.7%), and 12 (7.1%), respectively. Exact stage of 38 (22.6%) eyes could not be determined. The FEVR phenotypes were more severe in the probands than the phenotypes in the family members (P < 0.001). The families were divided into two groups, probands that inherited the variant from the mother, and probands that inherited the variant from the father. In addition, the FEVR stage differences between these two groups were different (P < 0.05). Despite the mutations being located in different domains of FZD4, no significant differences were identified among the domains in terms of FEVR staging, retinal folds, retinal detachment, temporal midperipheral vitreoretinal interface abnormality, and foveal hypoplasia.

Conclusions

The FZD4 probands had severer phenotype than the family members, and the FEVR stage difference was greater between the probands and mothers than that between the probands and fathers.