In this pilot study we reported variation of superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses flow in macular and near/mid periphery regions in healthy subjects using widefield swept ...source-optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).
In this prospective, cross-sectional study, enroled subjects were imaged with an SS-OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). OCTA scans were taken in primary and extremes of gaze and a montage was automatically created. Quantitative analysis was performed in the macular and peripheral regions. In addition, SCP and DCP variables were further investigated in distinct fields within these three different regions.
Fifty-five young healthy subjects (55 eyes) were enroled. The retinal periphery displayed a higher SCP perfusion density (39.6 ± 1.7% and 40.7 ± 1.4%, P < 0.0001) and SCP vessel diameter index (3.5 ± 0.2 and 3.6 ± 0.2, P < 0.0001), in comparison with the macular region. At the DCP level, the retinal periphery was characterized by a lower perfusion density (41.6 ± 3.7% and 37.9 ± 2.9%, P < 0.0001) and vessel length density (14.6 ± 6.0% and 9.9 ± 2.6%, P < 0.0001). In the analysis investigating the DCP in the retinal periphery, the temporal sector was characterized by a reduction in perfusion density, vessel length density, and vessel diameter index. In univariate analysis, the retinal thickness was found to have a significant direct relationship with DCP perfusion density (P < 0.0001), but not with SCP perfusion density (P = 0.712).
We report quantitative mapping of the SCP and DCP in healthy individuals. The DCP perfusion appears to have a wide topographical variation, which is strictly dependent on the retinal thickness.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The purpose of the study was to detect Hard Exudates (HE) and classify Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers (DRIL) implementing a Deep Learning (DL) system on optical coherence tomography (OCT) ...images of eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). We collected a dataset composed of 442 OCT images on which we annotated 6847 HE and the presence of DRIL. A complex operational pipeline was defined to implement data cleaning and image transformations, and train two DL models. The state-of-the-art neural network architectures (Yolov7, ConvNeXt, RegNetX) and advanced techniques were exploited to aggregate the results (Ensemble learning, Edge detection) and obtain a final model. The DL approach reached good performance in detecting HE and classifying DRIL. Regarding HE detection the model got an AP@0.5 score equal to 34.4% with Precision of 48.7% and Recall of 43.1%; while for DRIL classification an Accuracy of 91.1% with Sensitivity and Specificity both of 91.1% and AUC and AUPR values equal to 91% were obtained. The P-value was lower than 0.05 and the Kappa coefficient was 0.82. The DL models proved to be able to identify HE and DRIL in eyes with DME with a very good accuracy and all the metrics calculated confirmed the system performance. Our DL approach demonstrated to be a good candidate as a supporting tool for ophthalmologists in OCT images analysis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The purpose of this study was to investigate choroidal morphology remodeling in AMD-associated type 1 macular neovascularization using two different anti-VEGF drugs. We registered 73 treatment-naïve ...eyes with a diagnosis of exudative AMD and type 1 MNV. Patients received 3 monthly intravitreal aflibercept (n = 36, aflibercept group AG) or brolucizumab (n = 37, brolucizumab group BG). Baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and anatomical (structural optical coherence tomography) parameters were collected at "T1 control", before the loading phase (LP) of intravitreal injection, and at "T2 control", 1 month after the last injection. The main outcomes measured were choroidal vascularity index (CVI), sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and central macular thickness (CMT). Our results displayed significant SFCT reduction in both groups between T1 and T2 (p < 0.05), We did not find choroidal vascularity modifications (p > 0.05) after the loading aflibercept injections. Moreover, only the BG displayed a significant choroidal remodeling (stromal choroidal area SCA, total choroidal area TCA and CVI) at T2 (p < 0.05). In particular, a relevant stromal and total choroidal volume reduction was noted, accompanied by an increase in CVI. To conclude, the latter modifications of the choroidal morphology were found significant between two groups (p < 0.05). Our analysis showed a significant impact of brolucizumab on choroidal morphology in eyes affected by type 1 nAMD. This effect was found relevant when compared with aflibercept.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on longitudinal morphological changes in AMD-associated type 1 macular neovascularization using optical coherence ...tomography angiography (OCTA). We enrolled fifty treatment-naïve eyes with a diagnosis of exudative AMD and type 1 MNV. Twenty of 50 eyes were affected by mild DR. En face OCT angiography were examined for the MNV lesion area (mm2), the MNV flow area (mm2), the central macular thickness (CMT) and the BCVA. The OCTA acquisition was performed at the following visits: (i) before the loading phase (LP) of intravitreal injection of aflibercept (T1), and (ii) 1 month after the last intravitreal injection of loading phase comprising 3 monthly injections (T2). All morpho-functional parameters showed a significantly change at T2 compared to T1 values in both groups. Furthermore, we found a greater MNV area reduction after LP in eyes without DR (P = 0.023). With regard to the remaining parameters, no significant changes were found between two groups (P > 0.05). Our analysis revealed a less MNV area reduction after loading dose of anti-VEGF therapy in eyes affected by diabetic retinopathy.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
To assess the different impact of two enface OCTA image simultaneously acquired by means of a new prototype of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SD-OCTA) on quantitative ...retinal vascular metrics.
In this prospective observational cross-sectional study 28 healthy subjects were enrolled. Macular (3x3 mm) OCTA images were acquired for all participants using Solix Fullrange OCT (Optovue Inc, Freemont CA, USA). The main outcome measurements were: Perfusion density (PD), vessel length density (VLD), and vessel diameter index (VDI) of both superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC) total flow-deficits area. Quantitative retinal vascular metrics were measured on binarized and skeletonized OCTA images by comparing not averaged and fast automated multiple averaged en face OCTA images.
In both SCP and DCP, PD significantly increased (p = 0,005 and p = 0,030, respectively), and VLD significantly decreased (p<0,001 and p = 0,004, respectively), and VDI increased (p<0,001 and p = 0,068, respectively), and total CC flow deficits area significantly decreased (p<0,001) by averaging multiple OCTA images.
In this study, we found a significant difference of quantitative retinal metrics by comparing two different image acquisition modes using a novel and fully automated averaging OCTA system in young healthy subjects.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose To compare radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vascular plexus parameters and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness between Early-Treated Adults with Phenylketonuria ...(ETPKU) and controls. Methods This observational study was a monocentric, case control study including 36 eyes of 36 participants. Among these, 18 were early-treated PKU (ETPKU) and 18 were controls. A SD-OCTA (XR Avanti AngioVue OCTA; Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA) was employed to assess the OCT and OCTA parameters of all the participants. The main outcome measures were the RPC vessels density (VD) %, and the pRNFL thickness. Results The average pRNFL thickness was significantly reduced in ETPKU (110.78 ± 12.48 μm) compared to controls (113.22 ± 13.95 μm), p = 0.046. The mean VD% of the small vessels of the RPC plexus was 52.31 ± 2.2 in ETPKU and 50.71 ± 3.2 in controls ( p = 0.049), while the VD% of all the radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) was 58.5 ± 2.2 in ETPKU and 55.08 ± 3.4 in controls ( p < 0.001). By contrast, there were no differences in age, sex, and IOP between the two groups. Conclusion Through structural OCT and OCTA, we observed thinning of the nerve fibers accompanied by an increase in perfusion of the RPC plexus. Thus, our conclusions suggest that OCTA may serve as a noninvasive method to identify novel retinal biomarkers in ETPKU.
Introduction
The aim of this work is to utilize swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) to assess the long-term changes in the choroidal and choriocapillaris (CC) layers of ...the fellow unaffected eye of patients with unilateral resolved chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) following treatment with continuous oral eplerenone (EPL).
Methods
The study included 35 patients with cCSC and subretinal fluid (SRF) in one eye. SS-OCTA imaging was performed on the fellow cCSC eyes at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months during eplerenone therapy. CC OCT angiography was analyzed to determine the percentage of choriocapillaris flow deficits (FD%), the number of flow deficits (FDn), and the average area of flow deficits (FDa).
Results
The results demonstrated significant changes in CC flow deficits from baseline to follow-up visits. Specifically, there was a significant decrease in FD% from 28.9 ± 2.2% at baseline to 26.4 ± 1.9% at 6 months (
p
= 0.023), and further to 24.9 ± 1.7% at 12 months (
p
= 0.001). Additionally, the FD area gradually contracted over the follow-up period (
p
< 0.05). Conversely, there was a significant increase in the number of flow deficits compared to baseline (
p
< 0.05). No statistically significant changes were observed in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the follow-up visits (
p
> 0.05).
Conclusions
The findings of this study demonstrated long-term reperfusion of the choriocapillaris in unaffected fellow cCSC eyes during continuous oral eplerenone therapy. The beneficial effects of eplerenone therapy were observed after 6 months and maintained at 1 year. These results suggest that specific mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists may be effective in promoting choriocapillaris recovery in the unaffected eyes of patients with cCSC.
Introduction
The aims of this work were to evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of a loading dose of intravitreal faricimab in eyes with active neovascular age-related macular degeneration ...(n-AMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME) and to analyze the treatment outcome in relation to specific biomarkers.
Methods
Patients with active n-AMD or DME, treated with four monthly intravitreal injections of faricimab, were enrolled in this retrospective, uncontrolled study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield thickness (CST), presence of retinal fluid (RF) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), and adverse events were assessed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Predefined biomarkers were evaluated at baseline (BL) and at last visit.
Results
Sixteen eyes of 15 patients with n-AMD (n-AMD group) and 15 eyes of 12 patients with DME (DME group) were included. Mean (± standard deviation) logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BL BCVA changed from 0.68 (± 0.43) to 0.53 (± 0.36;
P
= 0.13) and from 0.51 (± 0.34) to 0.32 (± 0.24;
P
: 0.048) at week 16 in n-AMD and DME group, respectively. A statistically significant mean CST reduction was reported in both groups at last visit (n-AMD: − 166.5 μm;
P
= 0.0009/DME: − 110.8 μm;
P
= 0.0086). Seventy-five and 33% of eyes with n-AMD and DME respectively achieved complete RF resolution at last visit. Subfoveal inner and outer retinal damage correlated with a lower final BCVA in n-AMD group. The presence of large (> 100 μm) juxtafoveal microaneurysms (MAs) was significantly correlated with a higher chance of residual fluid in eyes with DME.
Conclusions
Both n-AMD and DME groups achieved satisfactory anatomical results after a loading-dose of intravitreal faricimab. BCVA improvement might be hampered by pre-existing retinal damage in eyes with n-AMD. Large, juxtafoveal MAs might represent a hallmark of a slower anatomical response to the treatment in eyes with DME.
(1) Background: The aim of this observational cross-sectional work was to investigate early retinal vascular changes in patients undergoing idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) surgery using swept ...source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA); (2) Methods: 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using SS-OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). For each eye, five 6x6-mm OCTA volume scans were acquired by two observers independently. The en face images of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) were then exported to imageJ and a semi-automated algorithm was used for subsequent quantitative analysis. Perfusion density (PD), vessel length density (VLD), vessel diameter index (VDI) and vessel tortuosity (VT) of SCP were evaluated in both the parafoveal (2.5 mm diameter) and perifoveal areas (5.5 mm diameter); (3) Results: At OCTA analysis statistically significant differences were found between controls and diseased eyes for all parameters in parafoveal and perifoveal regions (p<0.001; p<0.05) except for perifoveal VLD. During 6-month follow up, both anatomical/perfusion and functional parameters showed a statistically significant improvement if compared to preoperative values. In detail, at one month post vitrectomy, VLD and VT significantly changed in parafoveal region (p=0.043; p=0.045), while PD and VDI showed a trend of increase in both parafoveal and perifoveal region. At 6 months after surgery, PD, VLD and VT of parafoveal region significantly improved (p=0.021, p=0.018, p=0.047 respectively). (4) Conclusions: SS-OCTA provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the superficial capillary plexus allowing for early vascular changes assessment after vitrectomy with iERM and ILM peeling.
Introduction
To assess changes in choriocapillaris (CC) vascular density surrounding macular neovascularization (MNV) in treatment-naïve age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after faricimab ...application using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods
Twenty-five eyes of 25 treatment-naïve individuals who underwent intravitreal faricimab injections for neovascular AMD (nAMD) with type 1 MNV were included. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images and en-face swept-source OCTA images were analyzed, and the percentage of CC flow deficit (FD%), FD average area (FDa) and FD number (FDn) in five progressive 20.0-μm-wide concentric rings (R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5) surrounding the dark halo around the MNV were calculated. Image acquisition was carried out prior to the first faricimab injection (T0) and 1 month after the injection (T1).
Results
The topographical sub-analysis revealed noteworthy changes in all rings at T1 compared to T0. There was a notable progressive reduction in FD% at T1 compared to T0 values across all rings, indicating a gradual CC reperfusion following anti-VEGF treatment. Additionally, the average size of FD decreased after the loading phase. Although not reaching statistical significance, there was a progressive reduction in the FDa across all rings.
Conclusion
Our study highlights a CC FD reduction following the administration of three consecutive faricimab injections. This effect was detected in all rings surrounding the dark halo. These observations suggest a partial CC reperfusion surrounding the MNV, potentially serving as an indicator for disease regression.
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