Comparison of OCT and OCTA manifestations among untreated PCV, neovascular AMD, and CSC in Chinese population

Advances in multi-modal non-invasive imaging techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a disease characterized by subretinal pigment epithelium (RPE) orange-red polypoidal lesions and abnormal branching neovascular networks (BNNs). In recent years, various non-invasive imaging technologies have rapidly developed, especially the emergence of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), multi-spectral imaging, and other technologies, which enable the observation of more features of PCV. In addition, these technologies are faster and less invasive compared to indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Multi-modal imaging, which combined multiple imaging techniques, provides important references for the diagnosis and treatment of PCV with the assistance of regression models, deep learning, and other algorithms. In this study, we reviewed the non-invasive imaging techniques, multi-modal imaging diagnosis, and multi-scene therapeutic applications of PCV, with the aim of providing a reference for non-invasive multi-modal diagnosis and treatment of PCV.

Decreased macular choriocapillaris in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: focusing on chorioretinal folds with and without optic disc edema

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vessel density (VD) of the macular choriocapillaris (CC) and retina in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients with chorioretinal folds (CRFs) with and without optic disc edema (ODE) and the correlations of these characteristics with visual function.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty TAO patients with CRFs (35 eyes) and 20 normal subjects (normal group, 40 eyes) were recruited at the Ophthalmology Department of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from March 2018 to October 2022. Then, CRF patients were divided into two groups, the ODE and non-ODE groups (NODE), based on the presence or absence of ODE. All the patients underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and the VD of the macular CC and retina was computed. The correlation of VD and visual function was analyzed.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the macular whole-image VD in the retinal superficial layer (SLR-mwiVD: 49.82 ± 3.38 in the normal group, 42.44 ± 5.40 in the NODE group, and 42.51 ± 5.37 in the ODE group), deep layer (DLR-mwiVD: 51.05 ± 6.23 in the normal group, 45.71 ± 6.66 in the NODE group, and 46.31 ± 5.48 in the ODE group), and CC (CC-mwiVD: 70.23 ± 2.47 in the normal group, 68.04 ± 3.73 in the NODE group, and 63.09 ± 6.51 in the ODE group) was decreased in the NODE (all p < 0.05) and ODE group (all p < 0.01). There was no difference in these parameters except CC-mwiVD between the ODE and NODE groups. The CC-mwiVD in the ODE group (63.09 ± 6.51) was significantly reduced compared with that in the NODE group (68.04 ± 3.73, p = 0.004). All these VD parameters were negatively correlated with BCVA, VF-PSD, and P100 latency and positively associated with VF-MD, P100 amplitude, and HRR scores (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

There was a significant decrease in the VD of the macular CC and retina of patients with CRFs with or without ODE, which was correlated with visual dysfunction. The VD of the macular CC in CRF patients with ODE was significantly reduced compared with that in the NODE group, but similar results were not observed in the retina.

Macular and peripapillary optical coherence tomography angiography metrics in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy with chorioretinal folds

PURPOSE

To evaluate macular and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) microvascular densities and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) with chorioretinal folds (CRFs) and the associations of these characteristics with visual function.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was performed at the Ophthalmology Department of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from March 2018 to August 2021. All patients underwent ocular examination, ophthalmic function tests and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The microvascular densities in the macula and optic papilla in the TAO with CRFs or without CRFs. Correlation analyses were used to examine the association of microvascular density and visual function.

RESULTS

Ten TAO patients with CRFs (CRF group, 20 eyes) and 10 TAO patients without CRFs (NCRF group, 20 eyes) were recruited for the study. Visual function measurements, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), were found to be worse in the CRF group (all p < 0.05). The macular whole-image vessel density in the superficial layer (SLR-mwiVD) was significantly decreased in the CRF group (p < 0.05). The RPC whole-image vessel density (RPC-wiVD) was significantly decreased in the CRF group (p < 0.05), particularly in the temporal subfields. The P100 amplitude of visual evoked potentials (VEPs) was positively associated with SLR-mwiVD and RPC-wiVD. The thickness of RNFL in the CRF group was obviously thicker than that in the NCRF group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed decreased microvascular density of the macula and RPC and thicker RNFL in TAO patients with CRFs. CRFs with decreased microvascular density should be regard as an indicator of visually threatening conditions.

Imaging Characteristics of Neovascular and Atrophic Pachychoroidal Spectrum Diseases

Background

This study qualitatively and quantitatively compared imaging characteristics between neovascular and atrophic pachychoroid spectrum disease (PSD) by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA).

Methods

The subtypes of PSD were identified by multi-modality imaging approaches. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal vascular index (CVI), and vascular density of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were measured.

Results

The CVI and SFCT of 174 PSD eyes were 67.6% ± 5.48% and 362.2 ± 131.88 μm, respectively. After adjustment for age, linear regression indicated that SFCT was positively associated with CVI (p &lt; 0.001), and patched hyper-reflective lesions in choriocapillaris layers (p = 0.009). Compared with neovascular PSD eyes, atrophic PSD eyes had similar patient age (57.1 ± 16.72 years, p = 0.639), SFCT (332.0 ± 111.00 μm, p = 0.51), and CVI (67.6% ± 3.94%, p = 0.527). There were no differences between polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) eyes with aneurysmal polypoidal lesions and PCV eyes with tangled polypoidal lesions in terms of age, CVI, SFCT, vascular density, or the occurrence of double layer signs (DLSs, all p &gt; 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that age (p = 0.003), SFCT (p = 0.003), patched hyper-reflective lesions in choriocapillaris layers (p = 0.009), and DLSs (p &lt; 0.001) were predictive factors for CNV progression in PSD eyes (all p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study highlighted the similarities in SFCT and CVI between neovascular and atrophic PSD, both of which were late stage lesions. Besides, age, SFCT, patched hyper-reflective lesions in choriocapillaris layers, and DLSs were risk factors for CNV in PSD. Our results showed that atrophic PSD is an important change in the late stage of PSD disease, which is helpful for in-depth understanding of the pathological mechanism of PSD and corresponding intervention.

Sensitivity and specificity of choroidal thickness measurement by EDI-OCT for central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the utility of choroidal thickness (CT) measurement by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) diagnosis.

METHODS

Cross-sectional comparative study of 62 consecutive patients: 38 with acute CSC and 24 with macular subretinal fluid from differential diagnoses (DD). Subfoveolar choroidal thickness was measured using EDI 9-mm horizontal protocol. We evaluated sensitivity, specificity and intraclass correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Mean subfoveolar CT was greater in CSC group than in DD group (465.45 ± 115.42 μm vs. 347.54 ± 111.27 μm, p < 0.001). The best threshold measure was 390 μm in patients younger than 50 years giving a sensitivity of 89.7% (CI 95%: 73.6-100%) and a specificity of 75% (CI 95%: 40.9-87.3%). For patients older than 50 years best threshold measure was found at 400 μm giving a sensitivity of 45.5% (CI 95%: 21.3-72%) and a specificity of 80% (CI 95%: 58.4-91.9%). Intraclass correlation coefficient for CT measurement was 0.87 (CI 95%: 0.74-0.93).

CONCLUSION

CT measurement with EDI-OCT helps to differentiate CSC from other causes of macular subretinal fluid in patients younger than 50 years.

The Application of Enhanced Depth Imaging Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Macular Diseases

The choroid plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of various posterior segment diseases. However, traditional imaging methods still have limited cross-sectional observation of choroid. Enhanced depth imaging in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT) uses a closer scanning position to the eye to create an inverted SD-OCT image with the advantage of better depth sensitivity, which can observe choroidal structure and measure choroidal thickness (CT) accurately. At present, more and more choroidal thickness measurements have been made in normal and pathologic states, in order to understand the pathogenesis and differential diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases, especially for macular lesions. This paper would review relevant original literatures published from January 1, 2008, to February 1, 2020, to evaluate the relationship between the changes of CT with EDI SD-OCT and macular diseases.