Lucia Benatti

Choroidal structure in eyes with drusen and reticular pseudodrusen determined by binarisation of optical coherence tomographic images

Purpose To compare luminal and stromal area of the choroid in eyes with drusen and reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and to investigate their changes over 24 months. Methods In eyes with drusen and RPD and control subjects, total choroidal, luminal and stromal area were measured on optical coherence tomography B-scans converted to binary images, at baseline and after 24 months. Results Eighteen eyes of 18 subjects for each group were included. In drusen and RPD, we found reduction of mean total choroidal (p=0.0005 and p<0.0001, respectively), luminal (p=0.003 and p<0.0001, respectively) and stromal area (p=0.007 and p=0.0002, respectively) from baseline to month 24; no change of ratio between luminal–stromal and the choroidal area was recorded. Mean luminal, stromal and total choroidal areas were reduced in RPD, as compared with drusen and controls at both baseline and month 24 (p<0.05 for all). In RPD, the stromal area was more represented, as we found lower mean ratio of luminal and total choroidal area compared with drusen and control at both baseline and month 24 (p<0.05 for all). Conclusions Mean total choroidal, luminal and stromal area decreased over 24 months similarly in eyes with drusen and RPD. Mean total choroidal, luminal and stromal area were more reduced in eyes with RPD, as compared with eyes with drusen and controls; however, stromal area was more represented in eyes with RPD suggesting a possible role of choroidal vascular depletion and fibrotic replacement in the pathogenesis and disease progression.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in laser maculopathy

Purpose Handheld laser pointer thermal injury affects primarily the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). However, so far no study has reported on the possible effects of laser pointers in the deeper layers, beneath the RPE. Here, we describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography findings in the choriocapillaris of a patient with laser maculopathy. Methods A 13-year-old boy presented to our department with decreased vision in the left eye 12 hours after having stared at the beam of a laser pointer. Results Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed 2 focal hyperreflective columns at the fovea extending from the RPE, involving all outer retinal layers, and terminating at the outer plexiform layer. The patient also underwent OCT angiography (OCT-A), which in the choriocapillary segmentation revealed 2 hypointense lesions in correspondence of the focal hyperreflectivities detected on structural OCT. We hypothesize that the OCT-A findings could represent a rarefaction of the choriocapillaris. However, the choriocapillary OCT-A findings could also represent artifacts due to the overlaying hyperreflective lesions. Conclusions It is known that the RPE is primarily damaged by the laser injury. Our findings suggest that the thermal injury could involve also the choriocapillaris, and thus not limited to the RPE. Multimodal imaging in laser maculopathy including OCT-A may lead to a better comprehension of the pathogenesis of laser retinal damages.

Photobleaching by Spectralis Fixation Target

IMPORTANCE The aim of this study is to determine whether the cross-shaped fixation target in a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography instrument (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering) could produce a cross-shaped increase fundus autofluorescence artifact on subsequent imaging. OBSERVATIONS Thirty eyes of 15 healthy volunteers (8 women and 7 men; mean [SD] age 24 [3] years) were included in the study, which was conducted between October 2015 and December 2015. In all eyes, a cross-shaped increase in macular autofluorescence with variable intensity occurred after Spectralis spectral-domain optical coherence tomography acquisition. This peculiar pattern was also detected on confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope infrared reflectance and MultiColor imaging. Interestingly, no changes in macular fundus autofluorescence pattern were evident after optical coherence tomography acquisition with either Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 or RTVue XR Avanti. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In an era characterized by extensive use of optical coherence tomography examination in clinical practice, the potential deleterious effects related to photopigments consumption by Spectralis optical coherence tomography fixation point deserve further investigation.

Outcomes of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in eyes with both neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose To investigate the outcomes of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in eyes with both neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods Patients from four high-volume referral centres who presented with neovascular AMD and DR, and received intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy, were included. Data retrieved from medical records and multimodal imaging were analysed. Results Forty-one eyes of 38 patients (21 male, 17 female; mean age 78±8 years) were enrolled. Median follow-up was 28±19 (12–72) months with a mean of 9.2±7.4 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections per eye were administrated. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.5±0.3 logMAR; it improved significantly at 1 year (0.3±0.3 logMAR; p=0.02) and returned to baseline values at last follow-up visit (0.6±0.4 logMAR; p=0.26). Mean central macular thickness (CMT) significantly decreased from 408±150 μm to 328±104 μm at 1 year (p=0.021) and to 335±127 μm at last follow-up visit (p=0.032). The baseline severity of DR was graded as mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR) in 21 (51%) eyes, moderate NPDR in 14 (34%), severe NPDR in 4 (10%) and inactive proliferative DR in 2 (5%). At last follow-up visit, one eye graded as moderate NPDR improved to mild, one eye graded as severe NPDR improved to mild and one eye graded as severe NPDR was inactivated due to panretinal photocoagulation. Conclusions Outcomes analysis of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for eyes with both neovascular AMD and DR showed stabilisation of BCVA and reduction of CMT, along with stable or improved DR stage throughout follow-up.

Inter-method agreement in retinal blood vessels diameter analysis between Dynamic Vessel Analyzer and optical coherence tomography

PurposeTo analyze the inter-methods agreement in arteriovenous ratio (AVR) evaluation between spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA).MethodsHealthy volunteers underwent DVA and SD-OCT examination. AVR was measured by SD-OCT using the four external lines of the optic nerve head-centered 7-line cube and by DVA using an automated AVR estimation. The mean AVR was calculated, twice, separately by two independent readers for each tool.ResultsTwenty-two eyes of 11 healthy subjects (five women and six men, mean age 35) were included. AVR analysis by DVA showed high inter-observer agreement between reader 1 and 2, and high intra-observer agreement for both reader 1 and reader 2. With regard to AVR analysis on SD-OCT, we found high inter-observer agreement between reader 1 and 2, and low intra-observer agreement for reader 2 but high intra-observer agreement for reader 1. Overall, the mean AVR measured on SD-OCT turned out to be significantly higher than mean AVR measured through DVA (reader 1, 0.9023 ± 0.06 vs 0.8036 ± 0.08; p < 0.001, and reader 2, 0.9067 ± 0.06 vs 0.8083 ± 0.05; p= 0.003).ConclusionsNo inter-method agreement in AVR could be detected in the present study due to bias in measurements (shift between DVA and SD-OCT). We found significant difference in the two noninvasive methods for AVR measurement, with a tendency for SD-OCT to overestimate retinal vascular caliber in comparison to DVA. This may be useful for achieving greater accuracy in the evaluation of retinal vessel in ocular as well as systemic diseases.

Atypical Presentation of Chorioretinal Folds-Related Maculopathy.

PURPOSE Chorioretinal folds are undulations that anatomically include the inner choroid, Bruchs membrane, and the retinal pigment epithelium, and secondarily affect the overlying neurosensory retina. We analyzed clinical data and management of six patients diagnosed with chorioretinal folds-related maculopathy with atypical presentations. CASE REPORT The mean age of the six patients (five women) was 77 years. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged between 20/200 and 20/80. None of the patients had history of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, or autoimmune disease, and they were all diagnosed with idiopathic chorioretinal folds. Case 1, 2, and 3 received intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy; case 4 received intravitreal anti-VEGF and photodynamic therapy; case 5 received only photodynamic therapy; and case 6 received intravitreal injections of sustained-release dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex). In case 1 and 2, the use of ranibizumab resulted in BCVA improvement and resolution of sub-/intraretinal exudation. In case 3, ranibizumab led to a mild reduction of the intraretinal exudation but no changes in BCVA. In case 4 and 5, six intravitreal injections of ranibizumab with two photodynamic therapies and three photodynamic therapies, respectively, led to a mild reduction of the sub-/intraretinal exudation but no changes in BCVA. In case 6, five intravitreal injections of Ozurdex in both eyes led to reduction of the subretinal or intraretinal fluid accumulation and BCVA improvement. DISCUSSION Choroidal vessel dilation and hyperpermeability may be involved in atypical presentations of chorioretinal folds-related maculopathy characterized by sub-/intraretinal fluid accumulation. Dilated and hyperpermeable choroidal vessels may result in focal retinal pigment epithelium alterations that can progress to choroidal neovascularization or chronic central serous chorioretinopathy-like maculopathy with or without telangiectatic retinal capillaries. Intravitreal anti-VEGF administration seems effective to treat choroidal neovascularization in stage 3 chorioretinal folds-related maculopathy, both anti-VEGF and photodynamic therapy seem to have only limited efficacy on chronic central serous chorioretinopathy-like maculopathy (and telangiectatic retinal capillaries), whereas intravitreal injection of Ozurdex seems efficacious to treat chronic central serous chorioretinopathy-like maculopathy.

Retinal vessels functionality in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose To analyse static characteristics and dynamic functionality of retinal vessels in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) by means of Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA). Methods Patients presenting with treatment-naïve CSCR and normal subjects (controls) matched for age and sex between May 2015 and November 2015 were enrolled in the study. Participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including dynamic and static retinal vessels analysis by DVA. Results A total of 28 eyes of 28 subjects (14 eyes for each group) were included in the analysis. Dynamic analysis during stimulation by flickering light showed mean venous dilation of 3.3%±2.0% in patients with CSCR and 5.5%±2.6% in controls (p=0.0258); mean arterial dilation did not differ between patients and controls (3.2%±2.5% and 4.2%±1.5%, p=0.2). No differences were reported at static retinal analysis between patients with CSCR and control subjects. Subfoveal choroidal thickness as evaluated by optical coherence tomography was 438.6±86.1 µm in CSCR eyes, significantly increased compared with control subjects (301.5±72.5 µm, p=0.0001). Conclusions Dynamic analysis revealed a reduced retinal venous dilation in response to flicker light stimulation in CSCR eyes. The decreased retinal vein response to flicker light stimulation, possibly due to increased sympathetic tone and potentially leading to venous stasis, together with the increased choroidal thickness may help understand CSCR and give insights in its pathogenesis.