With high morbidity, branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common retinal vascular disease in the clinic. Although the classic characteristics of BRVO have been recognized for a long time, the traditional understanding of BRVO has been challenged along with development and application of new imaging technologies, including the reasonable classification and staging of the disease, and the vascular characteristics at the occlusive site via multimodal imaging, etc. Thus, re-summarizing and refining these features as well as further improving and optimizing traditional imaging evaluation, can not only deepen the correct acknowledge of the entity, but also find biomarkers of prognosis of visual function, which is helpful to establish better diagnosis and treatment strategy. In the meanwhile, it is necessary that clinical characteristics of BRVO on imaging and the reliability of these imaging techniques are worth correct understanding and objective assessment.
Objective To evaluate the application value of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods A comprehensive search of both domestic and international databases was conducted to identify clinical studies on the use of OCTA in OSAS, from the establishment of the databases to May 2024. A meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 software. Results A total of 134 studies were initially identified, with 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, encompassing 999 subjects (739 in the OSAS group and 260 in the healthy group). Meta-analysis results indicated that the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) density in the fovea (MD=–2.05, 95%CI –3.75 to –0.35, P=0.02) and parafovea (MD=–1.56, 95%CI –2.44 to –0.68, P=0.000 5) was significantly lower in the OSAS group compared with the healthy group. In the mild to moderate OSAS group, SCP density was significantly lower in the fovea (MD=–2.41, 95%CI –4.32 to –0.49, P=0.01), parafovea (MD=–1.17, 95%CI –2.01 to –0.32, P=0.007), and perifovea (MD=–1.73, 95%CI –2.69 to –0.77, P=0.000 4) compared with the healthy group. In the severe OSAS group, SCP density in the perifovea (MD=–1.33, 95%CI –2.53 to –0.13, P=0.03) was significantly lower than that of the healthy group. SCP density in the whole area (MD=0.36, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.68, P=0.02) was significantly higher in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. In the deep capillary plexus (DCP) density, the OSAS group showed significantly lower densities in the whole area (MD=–2.16, 95%CI –3.51 to –0.81, P=0.002), fovea (MD=–2.38, 95%CI –4.38 to –0.37, P=0.02), and parafovea (MD=–2.33, 95%CI –3.93 to –0.73, P=0.004) compared with the healthy group. The mild to moderate OSAS group also showed significantly lower densities in the whole area (MD=–2.02, 95%CI –3.33 to –0.72, P=0.002) and parafovea (MD=–1.65, 95%CI –3.04 to –0.26, P=0.02) compared with the healthy group. The severe OSAS group had significantly lower DCP density in the whole area (MD=–2.26, 95%CI –3.85 to –0.66, P=0.006) and parafovea (MD=–1.47, 95%CI –2.31 to –0.62, P=0.000 7) compared with the healthy group. DCP density in the whole area (MD=0.54, 95%CI 0.02 to 1.07, P=0.04) was significantly higher in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. Regarding the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, the inferior quadrant (MD=4.01, 95%CI 0.69 to 7.32, P=0.02) and temporal quadrant (MD=4.35, 95%CI 1.88 to 6.82, P=0.000 6) were significantly thicker in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. In terms of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, the severe OSAS group showed a significantly larger FAZ area (MD=0.06, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.08, P<0.000 01) compared with the healthy group. Conclusion OCTA-related ocular biomarkers may be associated with the occurrence and progression of OSAS and have potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of OSAS.
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the most common retinal vascular diseases causing blindness, macular edema (ME) is often secondary to it, which causes serious visual impairment to patients. Imaging biomarkers in the changes of retina and choroid of ME secondary to RVO (RVO-ME) have important clinical value in the evaluation of condition, curative effect and visual acuity prediction of patients with RVO-ME. Among them, the disorganization of the retinal inner layers, the integrity of external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, and the change of central macular thickness are reliable indexes to evaluate the prognosis of visual acuity; hyperreflective foci, subretinal fluid and intraretinal fluid can be used as important parameters to reflect the level of inflammation; prominent middle limiting membrane and paracentral acute middle maculopathy are the objective basis for judging the degree of retinal ischemia; the changes of choroidal vascular index and choroidal thickness also have potential advantages in evaluating the progress of the disease. Accurately grasp the characteristics of biological markers of RVO-ME related optical coherence tomography is conducive to its reasonable and accurate use in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of RVO-ME, and helpful to further explore the pathogenesis of the disease.
Purpose To investigate the relationship between the changes of the thickness of retina in macula and the abnormalities in multifocal electroretinog rams (mERG) in diabetic retinopathy. Methods mERG and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination were performed in 38 patients (60 eyes) with DR (phase Ⅲ～Ⅳ). The data were processed with software SPSS and line relation analysis was done. Results The response densities of N1, P1 and N2 in central 5deg; area was significantly negative related to the thickness of neuroretina in macular fovea (correlation efficient -0.252～-0.266，Plt;0.05). The response density of N2 in central 10deg; area was also significantly negative related to the thickness of neuroretina in macular fovea (correlation efficient -0. 332，P=0.01).There was no significant relationship between the latencies of N1 in central 5deg;, 10deg; area and the thickness of macula, whereares the latenc ies of P1 and N2 in central 5deg; were negatively related to the thickness of retinal pigment epithelium in the macular fovea (correlation efficient-0.271～ - 0.322，Plt;0.05). Conclusion The changes of the thickness of neuroretina in macula may affect the local retinal function in macula, which may be revealed by the reduction of response densities in mERG in patients with diabetic retinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:257-259)
Objective To compare the features of OCT angiography (OCTA) between neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) patients before and after intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment. Methods A prospective cohort study. Twenty-nine patients (37 eyes) with nAMD (19 males and 10 females, aged 68.20±8.76) and 31 patients (34 eyes) with mCNV (9 males and 22 females, aged 43.10±11.80, with the mean diopter of −9.71±1.20 D) from Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University during May and December 2017 were included in this study. Ranibizumab or Conbercept (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) was intravitreally injected in all eyes. The patients were follow-up for 3−6 months. The OCTA was conducted before treatment and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3−6 months after treatment. In order to ensure that the scanning position was the same, the tracking mode was adopted for each scanning. According to the OCTA images, the lesion area, parafoveal superficial vessel density and perfusion area were measured and analyzed contrastively between nAMD and mCNV patients. Results The mean lesion area before and 1 month after treatment in nAMD patients were 0.38±1.87 mm2 and 0.06±0.12 mm2, while in mCNV patients, those were 0.26±1.06 mm2 and 0.03±0.05 mm2, respectively. There were statistically significant differences (Z=4.181, 4.475; P＜0.001) in CNV lesion area before and 1 month after treatment between nAMD and mCNV patients. Compared with those before treatment, the absolute change (Z=1.853, P=0.064) and the percentage changes (t=2.685, P=0.010) of CNV lesion area 1 month after treatment in nAMD and mCNV patients show a statistical meaning. There were significantly decreases in both parafoveal superficial vessel density (F=8.997, P=0.003) and perfusion area (F=7.887, P=0.015) 3 months after treatment in nAMD patients, while decreases in parafoveal superficial vessel density (F=11.142, P=0.004) and perfusion area (F=7.662, P=0.013) could be detected 1 day after treatment in mCNV patients, before rising 1 month after treatment. Conclusions There are significantly differences in lesion area before and after the treatment of intravitreal anti-VEGF between nAMD and mCNV patients by OCTA examination. Moreover, the changes of both parafoveal superficial vessel density and perfusion area after anti-VEGF treatment are statistically different in two groups.
Objective To observe multimodality imaging features of different properties in multifocal choroiditis (MFC). Methods Twenty-eight patients (51 eyes) with MFC were enrolled in this study. There were 10 males and 18 females. The patients aged from 31 to 49 years, with the mean age of (41.5±0.8) years. There were 23 bilateral patients and 5 unilateral patients. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus colorized photography, infrared fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. The lesions were classified as active inflammatory lesion, inactive inflammatory lesion, active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and inactive CNV. The multimodality imaging features of different properties in MFC was observed. Results In fundus colour photography, the boundaries of active inflammatory lesions were blurry, while inactive inflammatory lesions had relatively clear boundaries. Secondary active CNV showed mild uplift and surrounding retinal edema; Secondary active CNV lesions showed mild uplift, retinal edema around the lesion; Secondary non-active CNV had no retinal exudate edema lesions, but had lesions fibrosis and varying degrees of pigmentation. Infrared fundus examination revealed that both active and inactive inflammatory lesions showed a uniform punctate or sheet-like fluorescence. The fluorescence of CNV lesions was not uniform; there was a bright ring around the strong fluorescence. FAF found that active inflammatory lesions showed weak autofluorescence (AF), surrounded by a strong fluorescence ring; inactive inflammatory lesions showed AF loss. Secondary active CNV lesions showed strong AF with a bright ring along the edge, and obscured fluorescence for co-occurred hemorrhagic edema; secondary non-active CNV lesions were strong AF, surrounded by a weak AF ring. FFA revealed that active inflammatory lesions showed weak fluorescence in the early stage, and fluorescence gradually increased in the late stage with slight leakage. Inactive inflammatory lesions showed typical transmitted fluorescence. Fluorescein leakage secondary to active CNV was significant; lesions secondary to inactive CNV showed scar staining. In OCT, the active inflammatory lesions showed moderately weak reflex signals in the protruding lesions under the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The inactive inflammatory lesions showed penetrable RPE defects or choroidal scar, it also showed clear RPE uplift lesions with a strong reflection signal. Secondary active CNV showed subretinal fluid retention; secondary non-active CNV showed RPE defects and choroidal scarring. Conclusions Active inflammatory lesions in MFC have blurred boundary, retinal edema and fluorescein leakage in FFA; inactive inflammatory lesions have clear boundary and typical transmitted fluorescence in FFA, and no retinal edema. Secondary active CNV showed subretinal fluid in OCT; and secondary non-active CNV showed RPE defects and choroidal scarring.
ObjectiveTo observe the pathological changes of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsFifty-three eyes of 53 patients who were diagnosed as CRAO in our center between January 2001 to January 2004 underwent the examination by OCT. The intervals between the disease onset and OCT examination were less than 2 weeks. The scan modes of OCT were horizontal or vertical line scan. The locations of scanning were macular, posterior pole of retina, optical papilla and the focus of bleeding or exudation.ResultsThe OCT pathological changes of CRAO in vivo includes increase of retinal thickness and reflex of retina, width of dark layer of photoreceptor (edema), edema or cystoid edema of fovea, retinal bleeding, cotton-wool spot and papilla edema. Four patients who had ciliary retinal artery showed normal retinal structure in the supply region of ciliary retinal artery.ConclusionOCT can display the pathological changes of retinal tissues in CRAO in vivo, especially on the old patients or the patients with systemic disease who were contraindicated by FFA. The unique OCT image of pathological changes of CRAO supply the objective signs for the instant clinical diagnosis.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:74-78)
Diabetic macular edema is the major cause of vision impairment in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Thickness and pathological alterations in each retina layer of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients can be performed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. And retinal light sensitivity at specific retinal point and fixation state can be detected by microperimetry qualitatively and quantitatively. Moreover, OCT can discover pathological anatomical changes in the retina of DME patients, thus facilitating the interpretation of the structure-function relationship in DME with combination of microperimetry results. At present, there are various therapies for DME patients, and the primary method in evaluating therapeutic efficacy is to compare the pathological changes in the retina before and after treatment by OCT. Besides, microperimetry can provide information in visual function restoration. The combined application of OCT and microperimetry has broad prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of DME patients.
Objective To verifying the characteristics of optical coherence tomography(OCT) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods The patients being investigated in this series included 16 cases (19 eyes) of exudative age-related macular degeneration diagnosed by FFA and OCT examinations, among them 4 cases (6 eyes) were examined with ICGA. The color photographs of ocular fundi, FFA, ICGA and OCT were investigated by contrasting each other. Results As compared with the FFA and ICGA examinations, the characteristic findings found in OCT in patients with exudative AMD in this series were as the following:①serous detachment of neurosensory epithelium in 11 eyes,②retinal hemorrhage in 2 eyes,③serous detachment of retinal pigment epithelium in 5 eyes,④hemorrhagic detachment of retinal pigment epithelium in 10 eyes,⑤disciform scar in 4 eyes,⑥fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment and occult CNV in 12 eyes. Conclusion OCT can supply a comprehensive survey of exudative AMD, in making the diagnosis as an important complementary examination of FFA and ICGA. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:220-223)