Retinal capillary network and foveal avascular zone in eyes with vein occlusion and fellow eyes analyzed with optical coherence tomography angiography

Mehreen Adhi, Marco A. Bonini Filho, Ricardo N. Louzada, Laura Kuehlewein, Talisa E. De Carlo, Caroline R. Baumal, Andre J. Witkin, Srinivas R. Sadda, David Sarraf, Elias Reichel, Jay S. Duker, Nadia K. Waheed

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

148 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the perifoveolar retinal capillary network at different depths and to quantify the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) compared with their fellow eyes and healthy controls using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (SD-OCTA). Methods: We prospectively recruited 23 patients with RVO including 15 eyes with central RVO (CRVO) and 8 eyes with branch RVO (BRVO), their fellow eyes, and 8 age-matched healthy controls (8 eyes) for imaging on prototype OCTA software within RTVue-XR Avanti. The 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm en face angiograms of superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses were segmented. Perifoveolar retinal capillary network was analyzed and FAZ was quantified. Results: Decrease in vascular perfusion at the deep plexus was observed in all eyes with CRVO (8/8, 100%) and BRVO (6/6, 100%) without cystoid macular edema, and in 8 of 15 (53%) and 2 of 8 (25%) of the fellow eyes, respectively. Vascular tortuosity was observed in 13 of 15 (87%) CRVO and 5 of 8 (63%) BRVO eyes. Collaterals were seen in 10 of 15 (67%) CRVO and 5 of 8 (63%) BRVO eyes. Mean FAZ area was larger in eyes with RVO than their fellow eyes (1.13 ± 0.25 mm2 versus 0.58 ± 0.28 mm2; P = 0.007) and controls (1.13 ± 0.25 mm2 versus 0.30 ± 0.09 mm2; P < 0.0001), and in fellow eyes of RVO patients when compared to controls (0.58 ± 0.28 mm2 versus 0.30 ± 0.09 mm2; P = 0.01). Conclusions: Spectral-domain OCTA reveals abnormalities at different levels of perifoveolar retinal capillary network and is able to quantify the FAZ in RVO. Longitudinal studies may be considered to evaluate the clinical utility of OCTA in RVO and other retinal vascular diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)486-494
Number of pages9
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume57
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fovealavascular zone
  • Optical coherence tomography angiography
  • Perifoveal retinal capillary plexus
  • Retinal vein occlusion
  • Vascular perfusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Retinal capillary network and foveal avascular zone in eyes with vein occlusion and fellow eyes analyzed with optical coherence tomography angiography'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this