To evaluate the long-term visual outcomes and causes of vision loss in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
Retrospective, longitudinal study.
A total of 133 participants (217 eyes) with ...chronic CSC.
A retrospective review of clinical and multimodal imaging data of patients with chronic CSC managed by 3 of the authors between May 1977 and March 2018. Multimodal imaging comprised color photography, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and OCT.
Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the final visit; change in BCVA between first visit and 1-, 5-, and 10-year follow-up visits; and causes of vision loss at final visit.
Data from 6228 individual clinic visits were analyzed. Mean age of patients at the first visit was 60.7 years, and mean period of follow-up from first to last visit was 11.3 years. The cohort included 101 male patients (75.9%). At the final visit, 106 patients (79.7%) maintained driving-standard vision with BCVA of 20/40 or better in at least 1 eye, and 17 patients (12.8%) were legally blind with BCVA of 20/200 or worse in both eyes. Mean BCVA at first visit was not significantly different from mean BCVA at 1- or 5-year follow-up visits (both P ≥ 0.65) but was significantly better than the mean BCVA at the 10-year follow-up visit (P = 0.04). Seventy-nine percent of eyes with 20/40 or better vision at the first visit maintained the same level of vision at the 10-year follow-up visit. Ninety-two percent of eyes with 20/200 or worse vision at the first visit maintained the same level of vision at the 10-year follow-up visit. Cystoid macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), outer retinal disruption on OCT, and FAF changes were associated with poorer vision at the final visit (all P ≤ 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that greater age at first visit was associated with greater BCVA change at the 10-year follow-up visit (P = 0.001).
Chronic CSC can be a sight-threatening disease leading to legal blindness. Age at presentation and outer retinal changes on multimodal imaging were associated with long-term BCVA changes and may be predictors of long-term visual outcomes.
Purpose To review the history of indocyanine green (ICG) angiography and to present a personal perspective on its use in the clinical setting today. Design Perspective with literature review and ...opinions based on personal experience. Methods To acquire views from international retinal physicians experienced with the technique on uses in their facilities and to compare them to the author's personal standards. Results The author and contributing retinal physicians had surprisingly similar views for most, but not all, applications for ICG angiography use in the clinical setting. Conclusions ICG angiography is recommended for a few highly selective chorioretinal disorders, including certain forms of neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, other neovascular maculopathies, chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, choroidal hemangiomas, and posterior uveitis.
Drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (DPED) is a known precursor to geographic atrophy in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We sought histologic correlates for spectral-domain (SD) optical ...coherence tomography (OCT) signatures in DPED and determined the frequency and origin of these OCT signatures in a clinical cohort of DPED eyes.
Laboratory imaging and histologic comparison, and retrospective, observational cohort study.
Four donor eyes with histopathologic diagnosis of AMD (2 with nonneovascular DPED and 2 with neovascular pigment epithelium detachment PED) and 49 eyes of 33 clinic patients with nonneovascular DPED more than 2 mm in diameter.
Donor eyes underwent multimodal ex vivo imaging, including SD OCT, then processing for high-resolution histologic analysis. All clinic patients underwent SD OCT, near-infrared reflectance, and color photography.
Histologic correlates for SD OCT signatures in DPED, estimate of coverage by different retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) phenotypes in the DPED surface; frequency and origin of histologically verified SD OCT signatures in a clinical cohort of DPED eyes, and comparisons of histologic features between neovascular PED and DPED resulting from AMD.
Intraretinal and subretinal hyperreflective foci as seen on SD OCT correlated to RPE cells on histologic examination. Hypertransmission of light below the RPE-basal lamina band correlated with dissociated RPE. Subretinal hyperreflective material resulting from acquired vitelliform lesions corresponded to regions of apically expelled RPE organelles. In the clinical cohort, all histologically verified reflectivity signatures were visible and quantifiable. The appearance of intraretinal hyperreflective foci was preceded by thickening of the RPE-basal lamina band. Compared with PEDs associated with neovascular AMD, DPEDs had different crystallization patterns, no lipid-filled cells, and thinner basal laminar deposits.
Multiple RPE fates in AMD, including intraretinal cells that are highly prognostic for progression, can be followed and quantified reliably using eye-tracked serial SD OCT. This information may be particularly useful for obtaining an accurate timeline of incipient geographic atrophy in clinic populations and for quantifying anatomic end points and response to therapy in AMD clinical trials.
To determine if the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is correlated with visual acuity (VA) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Cross-sectional study.
Ninety-five ...eyes of 66 subjects with DR (65 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (19 eyes), and central retinal vein occlusion (11 eyes).
Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT; Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering) and OCT angiography (OCTA; Avanti, Optovue RTVue XR) data from a single visit were analyzed. FAZ area, point thickness of central fovea, central 1-mm subfield thickness, the occurrence of intraretinal cysts, ellipsoid zone disruption, and disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) length were measured. VA was also recorded. Correlations between FAZ area and VA were explored using regression models. Main outcome measure was VA.
Mean age was 62.9±13.2 years. There was no difference in demographic and OCT-derived anatomic measurements between branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion groups (all P ≥ 0.058); therefore, data from the 2 groups were pooled together to a single RVO group for further statistical comparisons. Univariate and multiple regression analysis showed that the area of the FAZ was significantly correlated with VA in DR and RVO (all P ≤ 0.003). The relationship between FAZ area and VA varied with age (P = 0.026) such that for a constant FAZ area, an increase in patient age was associated with poorer vision (rise in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity). Disruption of the ellipsoid zone was significantly correlated with VA in univariate and multiple regression analysis (both P < 0.001). Occurrence of intraretinal cysts, DRIL length, and lens status were significantly correlated with VA in the univariate regression analysis (P ≤ 0.018) but not the multiple regression analysis (P ≥ 0.210). Remaining variables evaluated in this study were not predictive of VA (all P ≥ 0.225).
The area of the FAZ is significantly correlated with VA in DR and RVO and this relationship is modulated by patient age. Further study about FAZ area and VA correlations during the natural course of retinal vascular diseases and following treatment is warranted.
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a common cause of central vision loss, primarily affecting men 20–60 years of age. To date, no consensus has been reached regarding the classification of ...CSC, and a wide variety of interventions have been proposed, reflecting the controversy associated with treating this disease. The recent publication of appropriately powered randomised controlled trials such as the PLACE trial, as well as large retrospective, non-randomised treatment studies regarding the treatment of CSC suggest the feasibility of a more evidence-based approach when considering treatment options. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current rationale and evidence with respect to the variety of interventions available for treating CSC, including pharmacology, laser treatment, and photodynamic therapy. In addition, we describe the complexity of CSC, the challenges associated with treating CSC, and currently ongoing studies. Many treatment strategies such as photodynamic therapy using verteporfin, oral mineralocorticoid antagonists, and micropulse laser treatment have been reported as being effective. Currently, however, the available evidence suggests that half-dose (or half-fluence) photodynamic therapy should be the treatment of choice in chronic CSC, whereas observation may be the preferred approach in acute CSC. Nevertheless, exceptions can be considered based upon patient-specific characteristics.
•The treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is controversial.•In chronic CSC, the most effective treatment appears to be half-dose (or half-fluence) photodynamic therapy (PDT).•In acute CSC, observation or early half-dose (or half-fluence) PDT can be considered.•Future studies will shed light on the efficacy of new treatment strategies.
The term aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization is derived from terminology, which is established in the literature but has fallen out of use. We believe that aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization ...accurately describes the lesions which define the entity known as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Over the last three decades, the clinical spectrum of PCV has expanded to recognize the occurrence of the aneurysmal (polypoidal) lesions in different contexts, resulting in a complex and unwieldy taxonomy based sometimes on circumstantial findings rather than mechanistic considerations. Advances in multimodal imaging provides increasingly convincing evidence that the lesions which define various forms of PCV are indeed vascular and arise from type 1 neovascular networks. The understanding of PCV as type 1 neovascularization with aneurysms renews focus on the question as to why some patients with type 1 neovascularization develop aneurysms while others do not. Conceptual themes and potential for further study are discussed.
Purpose To describe the spectrum of retinal capillary ischemia, including superficial and deep capillary ischemia, as identified with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT), that ...occurs in retinal arterial occlusive disease. Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Clinical charts, color fundus photography, red-free fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, near-infrared reflectance, and SD OCT imaging in 40 eyes of 35 patients with retinal arterial occlusive disease were studied in both the acute and chronic phases in multicenter clinical practices. SD OCT imaging analysis was employed to characterize the presence of superficial and deep capillary ischemia in each eye. Results Of the 40 eyes, 15 eyes had central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), 22 eyes had branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), and 3 eyes had cilioretinal artery occlusion. During the acute phase, SD OCT showed the following 3 distinct patterns, related to retinal ischemia occurring at varying levels within the retina: (1) thickening and hyperreflectivity of the inner retinal layers, including the nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers owing to ischemia of the superficial capillary plexus; (2) a hyperreflective band at the level of the inner nuclear layer, termed “paracentral acute middle maculopathy,” representing ischemia of the intermediate and deep retinal capillary plexuses (deep capillary ischemia); and (3) diffuse thickening and hyperreflectivity of both the inner and middle retinal layers, which represented both superficial and deep capillary ischemia. Of all eyes, 31 (78%) had both superficial and deep lesions. The remaining 9 eyes (22%) had isolated deep capillary ischemia producing paracentral acute middle maculopathy with sparing of the superficial capillary plexus and a normal fluorescein angiographic appearance. As the lesions evolved into the chronic phase over the ensuing 3 months, the resultant thinning and atrophy reflected the retinal layers affected during the acute phase. Conclusion SD OCT imaging reveals the spectrum of capillary ischemia in retinal artery occlusive disease showing variable involvement of the superficial and intermediate/deep capillary plexuses. Isolated deep capillary ischemia manifested as paracentral acute middle maculopathy on SD OCT and may be seen in some eyes with retinal arterial circulation compromise despite complete absence of perfusion abnormalities on fluorescein angiography.
The purpose of this study was to describe clinical and multimodal imaging features of patients with Type 1 neovascularization who lack findings of age-related macular degeneration but instead have ...features consistent with long-standing central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
Nonconsecutive, retrospective, observational case series. Two groups of patients were identified and analyzed. Group 1 included patients presenting with Type 1 neovascularization who at the time of diagnosis were found to have findings more consistent with long-standing CSC than age-related macular degeneration. Group 2 included patients with a known history of CSC who developed Type 1 neovascularization over their course of follow-up. Clinical histories and multimodal imaging findings (color and red-free photography, fundus autofluorescence imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography) were analyzed.
Twenty-seven eyes of 22 patients were identified. Thirteen patients presented with Type 1 neovascularization thought to be secondary to CSC (Group 1), and 9 patients with CSC were observed to develop Type 1 neovascularization over their course of follow-up (Group 2). Eight patients (36%) had polypoidal neovascular structures within their Type 1 neovascular lesions, of which 4 (18% of all patients) had bilateral Type 1 neovascularization. The mean age of patients was 61 years (range, 48-76 years), and the median age was 58.5 years. Thirteen patients (59%) were men. For those patients in Group 2, the mean duration between diagnosis of CSC and detection of Type 1 neovascularization was 139 months (range, 7-365 months). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 354 μm (range, 186-666 μm).
Some patients presenting with Type 1 neovascularization may have clinical and multimodal imaging findings more consistent with long-standing CSC than with age-related macular degeneration. These patients are more likely to be younger, men, have thicker choroids, and have a higher prevalence of polypoidal neovasculopathy than those patients with Type 1 neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Proper identification of these patients may have implications for their natural course and management.
Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) are a defined path to atrophy in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We analyzed the relationships between retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and ...drusen volume changes during the PED lifecycle, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
Twenty-one cases of drusenoid PED tracked using SD-OCT through periods of growth and collapse were evaluated. Volumetric calculations and piece-wise linear regression analysis were used to determine the breakpoint between growth and collapse. Spectral-domain OCT scans were independently evaluated for the appearance of intraretinal hyperreflective foci, acquired vitelliform lesions (AVLs), and disruptions to the RPE+basal lamina band. Timing of these events with respect to the breakpoint was statistically evaluated. Morphometric characteristics of drusenoid PEDs were correlated with rate of PED collapse and final visual acuity.
Mean age of subjects was 75.3 years and mean period of follow up was 4.1 years (median 4.5 years; range, 0.6-6.6 years). The lifecycle of drusenoid PEDs was asymmetric, in that the rate of collapse (0.199 mm3/month) is significantly faster (P < 0.001) than the rate of growth (0.022 mm3/month). Appearance of intraretinal hyperreflective foci and AVLs preceded the breakpoint (both P < 0.001). The timing of disruptions to the RPE+basal lamina band did not differ from the breakpoint (P = 0.510). Maximal height, volume, and diameter of drusenoid PEDs were inversely correlated with final visual acuity (all P < 0.001) and positively correlated with the rate of PED collapse (all P < 0.001).
Spectral-domain OCT signatures, plausibly attributable to anteriorly migrated RPE and disintegration of the RPE layer, precede or occur simultaneously with changes in volume of drusenoid PED during the lifecycle of this lesion.