Topographic angiography and optical coherence tomography: a correlation of imaging characteristics

PURPOSE: Topographic angiography (TAG) using confocal scanning laser angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are new imaging modalities that have been introduced during recent years. OCT and TAG imaging were compared to specify the characteristics of each imaging modality. METHODS: TAG using fluorescein angiography (FA) provides a three-dimensional profile of the vascular structures based on the analysis of a set of 32 confocal images over a depth of 4 mm. OCT provides cross-sectional images of the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium-choriocapillary complex (RPE-CC). The authors compared and evaluated both modalities in 10 patients with predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV), 10 patients with serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and 10 patients with geographic RPE atrophy, all secondary to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). RESULTS: In patients with classic CNV, TAG detected neovascular structures and delineated their configuration. In PEDs pooling of extravascular fluid is demonstrated, and in geographic RPE atrophy TAG showed reduced choroidal perfusion. Classic CNV was demonstrated by OCT as a hyperreflective band at the level of the RPE-CC, and PED showed a dome-shaped RPE detachment. In geographic RPE atrophy, OCT imaged loss of the RPE band and had an increased depth resolution. CONCLUSIONS: TAG and OCT are useful imaging modalities in the evaluation of ARMD cases. TAG visualizes the vascular configuration and dynamic perfusion and leakage changes. OCT is able to document intra-, subretinal, and sub-RPE fluid accumulation secondary to CNV. Both modalities may provide further valuable insight into ARMD pathogenesis, enhance diagnostic quality, and improve the assessment of therapeutic effects.     

自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年黄斑变性近期疗效观察

目的 探讨自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植术治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效.方法 回顾性分析30例确诊为渗出性老年性黄斑变性的患者,采用脉络膜新生血管膜切除联合自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植手术方法.手术前后行视力、荧光素眼底血管造影、吲哚氰绿眼底血管造影、多焦视网膜电图、光学相干断层扫描检查评价疗效.结果 移植术后随访6个月时,25例(83.33%)患者视力获得提高,2例(6.66%)患者视力不变,3例(10%)患者视力下降;所有患者黄斑区RPE植片平铺在位,未见CNV复发.结论 自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效确切,是治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性安全有效的手段之一.     

自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年黄斑变性近期疗效观察

目的 探讨自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植术治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效.方法 回顾性分析30例确诊为渗出性老年性黄斑变性的患者,采用脉络膜新生血管膜切除联合自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植手术方法.手术前后行视力、荧光素眼底血管造影、吲哚氰绿眼底血管造影、多焦视网膜电图、光学相干断层扫描检查评价疗效.结果 移植术后随访6个月时,25例(83.33%)患者视力获得提高,2例(6.66%)患者视力不变,3例(10%)患者视力下降;所有患者黄斑区RPE植片平铺在位,未见CNV复发.结论 自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效确切,是治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性安全有效的手段之一.     

自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年黄斑变性近期疗效观察

目的 探讨自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植术治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效.方法 回顾性分析30例确诊为渗出性老年性黄斑变性的患者,采用脉络膜新生血管膜切除联合自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植手术方法.手术前后行视力、荧光素眼底血管造影、吲哚氰绿眼底血管造影、多焦视网膜电图、光学相干断层扫描检查评价疗效.结果 移植术后随访6个月时,25例(83.33%)患者视力获得提高,2例(6.66%)患者视力不变,3例(10%)患者视力下降;所有患者黄斑区RPE植片平铺在位,未见CNV复发.结论 自体带Bruch膜视网膜色素上皮复合体移植治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性近期疗效确切,是治疗渗出性老年性黄斑变性安全有效的手段之一.     

Spontaneous rip of the retinal pigment epithelium with a macular hole in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To report a case of retinal pigment epithelial tear associated with a macular hole in a patient with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: An 87-year-old woman with AMD-related fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment associated with vision loss was followed with sequential fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography for 8 months. RESULTS: The detachment developed into a retinal pigment epithelium tear with macular hole formation. The temporal evolution of the lesion and optical coherence tomography findings suggested that the retinal pigment epithelium tear led to stretching forces along the posterior surface of the neurosensory retina with secondary foveal dehiscence. CONCLUSION: Macular hole formation is one mechanism by which retinal pigment epithelium tears may cause vision loss in AMD.     

渗出型老年黄斑变性患者眼底相干光断层成像结果分析

目的：了解渗出型老年黄斑变性（age-related macular degeneration,AMD）患者的眼底相干光断层成像（optical coherence tomography,OCT）特征。方法：对经常规检查、荧光素眼底血管造影（fundus fluorescein angiography,FFA）、吲哚青绿脉络血管造影（indocyanine green angiography,ICGA）确诊的渗出型AMD患者38例（42只眼）行眼底OCT检查,分析其图像资料,并与其FFA和ICGA检查结果进行比较。结果：OCT图像特征：典型纤维性新生血管膜34只眼,浆液性视网膜神经上皮脱离38只眼,视网膜神经纤维层脱离合并层间水肿8只眼,出血性和浆液性视网膜色素上皮（retinal pigment epithelium,RPE）脱离分别为11只眼和9只眼。结论：渗出型AMD患者眼底OCT图像特征为典型的纤维性新生血管膜合并浆液性视网膜神经上皮脱离、视网膜神经纤维层脱离、浆液性和出血性RPE脱离。上述图像特点证实和补充了FFA和ICGA检查结果,有助于渗出型AMD的诊断和评价。     

OCT-Angiographie bei der exsudativen altersbedingten Makuladegeneration

The new technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography allows a non-invasive reconstruction of the three-dimensional structure of the total retinal and choroidal vascularization within seconds. There are still limitations caused by movement artefacts, superimposition of superficial retinal vessels at the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) level and insufficient three-dimensional imaging modalities. Initial experiences with this new method and especially the correlation with the current standard diagnostic procedure of fluorescein angiography show that new information can be obtained regarding specific vascular and neovascular changes. For three-dimensional neovascular changes, such as those found in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD,) a more sophisticated diagnostic analysis strategy must be specifically developed. Initial experiences demonstrate that the differentiation into the various types of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by fluorescein angiography, specifically for type 1 (occult) and type 2 (classical) can also be visualized by OCT angiography. Furthermore, the new technology provides additional information on the choroidal and outer retinal changes associated with this disease, which may result in a better understanding of the underlying pathology.     

Prediction of retinal pigment epithelial tear in serous vascularized pigment epithelium detachment

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify predictive factors for detection of impending retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears in patients under anti‐VEGF therapy for treatment of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) due to exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) using near‐infrared reflectance imaging (NIR), spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FLA). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated NIR, SD‐OCT and FLA images, number of intravitreal injections as well as demographical data of 103 eyes of 98 patients with vascularized PED [48.5% fibrovascular PED (fPED), 51.5% serous vascularized PED (svPED)] secondary to AMD. Results: Fifteen eyes with svPED of 103 included eyes (14.6%) developed an RPE tear under anti‐VEGF therapy. Prior to RPE tear formation, we could identify radial hyperreflective lines spreading in a funnel‐like pattern across the PED lesion in NIR images in 11 eyes correlating with folds in the RPE on corresponding SD‐OCT scans (mean observation period: 115.4 ± 66.6 days; mean number of injections: 3.2 ± 1.5; mean PED height 828.2 ± 356.5 μm). In nine RPE tears (81.8%), the edge of the tear could be clearly localized on the opposite side of the PED lesion in relation to the origin of hyperreflective lines. None of the fPED patients showed the described signal. Conclusions: Patients under anti‐VEGF therapy for treatment of svPED due to AMD frequently show radial hyperreflective lines in NIR images prior to RPE tear development that correspond to wrinkled changes in the RPE. Hyperreflective lines may serve as an indicator for an impending RPE tear in svPED patients.     

渗出型老年性黄斑变性和中心性渗出性脉 络膜视网膜病变脉络膜新生血管的 光学相干断层扫描

目的观察渗出型老年性黄斑变性(exudative age-related macular degeneration, AMD)和中心性渗出性脉络膜视网膜病变(central exudative chorioretinopathy, CEC)脉络膜新生血管 (choroidal neovascularization, CNV) 的光学相干断层扫描 (optical coherence tomography, OCT) 图像特征并比较两者之间的差异。方法对渗出型AMD 患者22例23只眼,CEC患者19例20只眼进行OCT检测,应用OCT软件进行CNV大小及黄斑中心凹视网膜神经上皮层厚度测量并分析两者与视力的关系。结果CNV的OCT 图像主要表现有：单纯性CNV、CNV伴浆液性神经上皮层脱离和CNV伴脉络膜视网膜渗出(可伴有浆液性神经上皮层脱离及浆液性或出血性色素上皮脱离)。渗出型AMD的CNV以CNV伴脉络膜视网膜渗出为主,有13只眼,占56.52%,其CNV累及范围较大;CEC的CNV以单纯性CNV为主,有18只眼,占90.00 %,其CNV累及范围相对较小。两组患者视力与黄斑中心凹视网膜神经上皮层厚度呈负相关( γ=-0.521,P=0.001)。结论渗出型AMD与CEC其CNV具有不同的OCT 形态特征,CNV累及范围也有差异。(中华眼底病杂志,2001,17:299-302)     

Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a short-term study

PURPOSE: To report the short-term study of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Interventional, consecutive, prospective case series. METHODS: One hundred and two eyes of 102 patients with neovascular AMD received monthly intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) (1.25 mg) until resolution of macular edema, subretinal fluid, and/or pigment epithelial detachment. Outcome measures included visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness as defined from optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: Mean VA was 20/80 and OCT central retinal thickness was 251.0 +/- 74.6 microm before injection and improved to 20/63 and 214.9 +/- 41.7 microm at six weeks (P < .001), 20/50 and 204.8 +/- 33.6 microm at 10 weeks (P < .001), and remained stable at 20/50 and 210 microm after 14 weeks (P < .05). No significant ocular or systemic side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) appears to be beneficial and well tolerated in the treatment of neovascular AMD in the short term. Further comparative evaluation against other antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents and dosing schedule is warranted.     

Correlation between components of newly diagnosed exudative age‐related macular degeneration lesion and focal retinal sensitivity

Purpose: To analyse lesion components determining retinal sensitivity in microperimetry in eyes with newly diagnosed exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, microperimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green (ICGA) angiographies of 23 eyes of 23 patients were analysed. Central microperimetry grids with 28 test stimulus sites were automatically aligned with three‐dimensional OCTs and manually aligned with angiographies. Thicknesses of the neuroretina, neuroepithelial detachment (NED), retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) elevation and subretinal tissue were measured under the 644 microperimetry stimulus sites. Areas of classic and occult choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs), subretinal and intraretinal haemorrhage, and late hyperfluorescence in ICGA were identified. The impact of the lesion components on retinal sensitivity was evaluated with correlation analysis and multivariate modelling. Results: Decreased retinal sensitivity correlated significantly with the presence of CNV, haemorrhage, subretinal tissue and RPE elevation. Out of the OCT parameters, the most important determinant of sensitivity was the thickness of RPE elevation (Spearman’s rho, r = ?0.202, p < 0.0001). The thicknesses of subretinal tissue (r = ?0.168, p < 0.0001) and NED had weaker effects (r = ?0.147, p < 0.0001), and the neuroretinal thickness remained nonsignificant. In multivariate modelling, RPE elevation and subretinal tissue in OCT, CNV membranes in angiographies and haemorrhage had the strongest impacts on retinal sensitivity. Conclusion: The most important lesion components affecting retinal function were RPE elevation and subretinal tissue in OCT as well as neovascular membranes and haemorrhage in angiographies. NED and neuroretinal thickening remained less significant.     

Aging macular degeneration. Clinical features of treatable disease

Argon laser treatment reduces visual loss in patients with aged macular degeneration and extrafoveal subretinal neovascular membranes (SRNVM). Ophthalmologists must now educate patients concerning the symptoms of subretinal neovascularization and give them an Amsler grid. If a patient develops symptoms he should be examined promptly. High quality fluorescein angiograms and meticulous contact lens examinations of the macula should be performed to detect subtle neovascularization. Ophthalmologists must be familiar with the clinical and fluorescein angiographic changes of drusen, retinal pigment epithelial atrophy, and retinal pigment epithelial detachments in order to differentiate them from subretinal neovascular membranes.     

Slow leakage from the retinal pigment epithelium (ooze) in age-related macular degeneration

The authors describe a condition called retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) ooze in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Patients with ooze have a neurosensory retinal detachment, a slowly progressive indiscrete leakage of fluorescein dye from the level of the retinal pigment epithelium, and no other signs of choroidal neovascularization. Sixteen patients with RPE ooze were followed for a mean of 4.5 years without treatment. Nine patients had a single round or oval area of leakage. In seven of these patients, choroidal neovascular membranes developed, with moderate to poor visual outcomes. The other seven patients had multiple smaller areas of leakage from the level of the RPE. None of these patients had a choroidal neovascular membrane, and all had resolution of the subretinal fluid with good final visual acuities. Patients with discrete round or oval RPE oozes appear to be at a high risk for the development of more definite choroidal neovascular membranes and vision loss.     

Optical coherence tomography on autologous translocation of choroid and retinal pigment epithelium in age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To analyse structural changes after autologous translocation of choroid and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: We performed a prospective nonrandomised study in 29 consecutive patients, who underwent submacular surgery with translocation of an autologous full-thickness graft of RPE, Bruch's membrane, and choroid. All patients had recent loss of reading vision due to AMD. OCT was performed before surgery and at 3- and 6- month follow-up to analyse the morphological appearance of the graft and the overlying retina. RESULTS: Maximum retinal thickness decreased from mean 408 microm (standard deviation (SD) 127 microm) preoperative to mean 373 microm (SD 104 microm) at 6-month follow-up (P=0.094). In 11 cases (40%), a nearly physiological shape of the retina was seen at this time point. A macular hole persisted in two eyes after silicone oil removal. In most eyes, the highly reflective band of the graft presumably corresponding to RPE was continuous with the surrounding RPE band in all six OCT scans. Eyes with flat appearance of the graft at 6-month follow-up (<300 microm) showed a significantly better functional outcome than eyes with more prominent grafts. Interestingly, most patients did not complain about metamorphopsia, even though the graft was prominent or wrinkled in some cases. CONCLUSION: OCT is a useful tool in monitoring intra- and subretinal changes after subretinal surgery with graft translocation. We demonstrated that graft translocation may lead to a normalisation of retinal thickness and stabilisation of visual acuity.     

Correlation of pathologic features in spectral domain optical coherence tomography with conventional retinal studies

PURPOSE: To delineate pathologic changes in retinal cross sections obtained with spectral (Fourier) domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), so that the findings are maintained when collapsed into a two-dimensional fundus image for comparison with conventional retinal studies. METHODS: SDOCT of the posterior pole of 12 eyes (5 with neovascular age-related macular degeneration [AMD]; 7 with nonneovascular AMD) produced three-dimensional stacks of scans. Location of pathologic features was delineated with color markings in each scan before the stack was collapsed along the depth axis. This en face image contained retinal vessel shadowing and preserved color markings of delineated pathologic features relative to the vessel pattern and was superimposed onto conventional studies. RESULTS: For patients with neovascular AMD, location and extent of choroidal neovascularization, macular edema, and subretinal fluid were visible on the two-dimensional summed images and, in some cases, involved sites not suspected with conventional imaging. For patients with nonneovascular AMD, the location of drusen and geographic atrophy were correlated with autofluorescence images. For one eye with drusen and three eyes with neovascular AMD, presence or extent of subretinal fluid identified by SDOCT was not visible using other imaging methods. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot AMD study, pathologic features within SDOCT scans were transferred into two-dimensional en face projections, enabling researchers to correlate lateral extent of pathologic features from SDOCT with conventional studies. This integration of SDOCT with other retinal studies is promising and will be useful to study the relationship between local OCT morphology and other parameters of retinal disease or function.     

频域光学相干断层扫描观察康柏西普治疗老年性黄斑变性患者黄斑结构的变化

目的　利用频域光学相干断层扫描（optical coherence tomography,OCT）观察湿性老年性黄斑变性（age-related macular degeneration,AMD）患者经康柏西普治疗后黄斑中心凹结构的变化并分析与最佳矫正视力（best corrected visual acuity,BCVA）的相关性。方法　经荧光素眼底血管造影确诊为湿性AMD的患者纳入研究,所有患者接受连续3个月、每个月玻璃体内注射一次康柏西普的常规疗法,记录治疗前及各次注射后1个月的BCVA以及频域OCT的特征（黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度、视网膜内积液、视网膜下积液、视网膜色素上皮层脱离、视网膜下纤维化等）。结果　经过3次注射治疗后,BCVA从治疗前的（0.98±0.55）LogMAR提高到治疗后的（0.69±0.43）LogMAR（P<0.01）,黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度从治疗前的（449.07±245.19）μm降低到治疗后的（232.76±103.93）μm（P<0.01）,其中初次注射后第1个月BCVA和黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度的改善最为明显;3次注射后视网膜内积液或视网膜下积液消退组BCVA改善并没有明显优于各自的未消退组（均为P>0.05）,但单纯视网膜下积液组BCVA明显优于单纯视网膜内积液组和混合积液组（F=6.168,P=0.007）。结论　频域OCT是一种评价黄斑结构改变的有效手段,为临床分析注射康柏西普术后视力的变化提供了有力的依据。     

Topography of diabetic macular oedema compared with fluorescein angiography

PURPOSE: To compare the amount and pattern of fluorescein leakage in diabetic macular oedema with the retinal thickness maps obtained with the retinal thickness analyser (RTA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: A consecutive series of 30 eyes from 30 patients with diabetic macular oedema was included. On fluorescein angiography (FA) the macula was analysed in 10 subfields as defined by the ETDRS. The amount and source of leakage for each field were determined. Retinal thickness was measured by OCT and RTA maps in each of the 10 fields and compared with the FA grading. RESULTS: Foveal retinal thickness on OCT was most influenced by the overall FA leakage, which was the only significant covariate on multivariate analysis. The source and amount of leakage correlated significantly with the topography of retinal thickness in the four peripheral fields between 1500 microm and 3000 microm from the macular centre (r = 0.54, p = 0.002). The mean amount and source of leakage in those fields also showed the highest correlation with central macular thickness on OCT (r = 0.46, p = 0.01). Similar results were obtained by RTA when excluding ischaemic cases (r = 0.44, p = 0.04). For both instruments, FA leakage within the four central fields < 1500 microm did not correlate significantly with retinal thickness. Thickness by OCT and RTA were highly correlated with one another for central macular measurements (r = 0.73, p < 0.001), but correlated poorly in the peripheral fields. Overall, OCT measurements correlated more highly with FA. CONCLUSIONS: Optical coherence tomography and RTA thickness measurements can be used to identify patients for further examination. Fluorescein angiography leakage in the outer ETDRS fields correlates best with central thickness and retinal thickness topography by OCT.     

The relationship between optical coherence tomography patterns, angiographic parameters and visual acuity in age-related macular degeneration

To assess the relationships between visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiographic parameters and optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Fifty eyes with confirmed diagnosis of new exudative AMD who underwent fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT evaluation were reviewed retrospectively. The greatest linear diameter of lesion (GLD) by FA and central foveal thickness (CFT) by OCT were measured. The OCT scans were evaluated for the presence of diffuse retinal thickening (D), cystic spaces (C), subretinal fluid (S) and pigment epithelial detachment (P) and five OCT patterns were detected (D + S; C; C + S; P + C + S; P + D + S). Angiographic classification of choroidal neovascularizations was performed. Correlations were statistically significant for VA and CFT in all patients whereas VA and GLD correlation was statistically significant only in predominantly classic and minimal classic lesions. The lowest VA values were detected in patients with COCT pattern and/or predominantly classic lesion type by FA. The OCT and FA findings when evaluated simultaneously may provide information regarding visual function in AMD.     

Practical guidance for imaging biomarkers in exudative age-related macular degeneration

We provide an overview of current macular imaging techniques and identify and describe biomarkers that may be of use in the routine management of macular diseases, particularly exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This perspective includes sections on macular imaging techniques including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA), classification of exudative AMD, and biomarkers in structural OCT and OCTA.Fluorescein angiography remains a vital tool for assessing the activity of neovascular lesions, while indocyanine green angiography is the preferred option for choroidal vessel imaging in neovascular AMD. OCT provides a non-invasive three-dimensional visualization of retinal architecture in vivo and is useful in the diagnosis of many imaging biomarkers of AMD-related neovascular lesions, including lesion activity. OCTA is a recent advance in OCT technology that allows accurate visualization of retinal and choroidal vascular flow. OCT and OCTA have led to an updated classification of exudative AMD lesions and provide several biomarkers that help to establish a diagnosis and the disease activity status of neovascular lesions.Individualization of therapy guided by OCT and OCTA biomarkers has the potential to further improve visual outcomes in exudative AMD. Moving forwards, integration of technologically-advanced imaging equipment with AI software will help ophthalmologists to provide patients with the best possible care.