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  • Choriocapillaris Flow Featu...
    Spaide, Richard F., MD

    American journal of ophthalmology, 10/2016, Letnik: 170
    Journal Article

    Abstract Purpose To investigate flow characteristics of the choriocapillaris using optical coherence tomography angiography. Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Visualization of flow in individual choriocapillary vessels is below the current resolution limit of optical coherence tomography angiography instruments, but areas of absent flow signal, called flow voids, are resolvable. The central macula was imaged with the Optovue RTVue XR Avanti using a 10 micron slab thickness in 104 eyes of 80 patients who ranged in age from 24 to 99 years of age. Automatic local thresholding of the resultant raw data with the Phansalkar method was analyzed with generalized estimating equations. Results The distribution of flow voids versus size of the voids was highly skewed. The data showed a linear log-log plot and goodness of fit methods showed the data followed a power law distribution over the relevant range. A slope intercept relationship was also evaluated for the log transform and significant predictors for variables included age, hypertension, pseudodrusen, and the presence of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the fellow eye. Conclusions The pattern of flow voids form a scale invariant pattern in the choriocapillaris starting in a size much smaller than a choroidal lobule. Age and hypertension affect the choriocapillaris, a flat layer of capillaries that may serve as an observable surrogate for the neural or systemic microvasculature. Significant alterations detectable in the flow pattern in eyes with pseudodrusen and in eyes with late AMD in the fellow eye offer diagnostic possibilities and impact theories of disease pathogenesis.