Microcystic macular edema (MME) represents a pathological change that can be observed in the inner layer of the retina in patients diagnosed with glaucoma. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in individuals with moderate to advanced glaucoma. The majority of research in this field has focused on primary open-angle glaucoma. The occurrence of MME in glaucoma has been demonstrated to be associated with younger age, advanced stage and disease progression. MME occurs in the parafoveal region, most frequently located in the inferior perimacular region, which corresponded with the most vulnerable area of ganglion cells in glaucoma. The presence of MME may affect the automatic layering of optical coherence tomography images, suggesting that clinicians should be mindful of the occurrence of MME to avoid misdiagnosis of the disease. It is hypothesised that the occurrence of MME in glaucoma may be related to macular vitreous traction, mechanical stress of the stent, and Müller cell dysfunction. A comprehensive investigation of the precise pathophysiological mechanism of MME in glaucoma will facilitate the development of a novel perspective and a scientific foundation for the diagnosis, disease monitoring and evaluation of treatment efficacy in glaucoma.
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.
Hyperreflective foci (HRF) were defined as well-circumscribed and scattered dots with hyperreflective signals in optical coherence tomography (OCT). HRF can be seen in the vitreous cavity as well as the retinal and choroidal layers. Different OCT examination equipment and modes have differences in HRF detection results, and HRF counting methods gradually develop from manual counting to semi-automatic counting and automatic counting. HRF may be lens fragments, inflammatory cells, migrating photoreceptor complexes, exuded proteins or lipids, activated microglia, degenerated photoreceptor cells, migrating retinal pigment epithelial cells, and degraded lipofuscin deposits. The number and distribution of HRF are associated with the progression and the prognosis of a variety of ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal dystrophy, etc. HRF are clinically important in guiding the personalized treatment of patients.
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is one of the representative pachychoroid spectrum disease. Although fundus fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography can be used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of CSC, they are invasive examinations, which may bring certain risks in clinical application and cannot help us obtain quantitative parameters. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), as a non-invasive and quantitative examination, is an important imaging tool for understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of CSC. With the advancement of OCTA, the swept-source OCTA has a satisfying scanning depth, a wider scanning range and a higher resolution. The development of OCTA broadens the horizons of the pathogenesis of CSC, promotes the understanding of the pathophysiology of CSC, and sheds new light for its clinical diagnosis and treatment. Based on OCTA, the choroid and retina in eyes with CSC are presented with qualitative and quantitative changes in vascular system. OCTA-guided CSC treatment and the discovery of prognostic markers based on OCTA challenge the application of traditional imaging techniques in CSC. With the continuous improvement and progress of OCTA technology, traditional angiography combined with OCTA will bring great benefits to the diagnosis and treatment of CSC. This review summarizes the quantitative application of OCTA in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of CSC.
Objective To compared the changes of macular microvascular architecture in early stage familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) patients with inner retinal layer (IRL) persistence and without IRL persistence. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From 2017 to 2022, 94 patients with stage 1 FEVR with or without IRL residue and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers with 45 eyes (normal control group) who were confirmed by ophthalmology examination in Hangzhou Hospital of Optometry Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital were included in the study. According to whether there was IRL residue, the patients were divided into IRL group and non-IRL group, with 22 patients (22 eyes) and 72 patients (72 eyes), respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed in all eyes. Superficial vessel density (SCP) and deep vessel density (DCP) of whole image, fovea and parafovea, the area and perimeter of fovea avascular area (FAZ), A-circularity index (AI, perimeter/standard circle perimeter with equal area) and vessel density around the 300 μm width of the FAZ (FD), central macular thickness (CMT) on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were measured. ResultsSCP and DCP of whole image (F=10.774, 4.583) and parafovea (F=10.433, 3.912), CMT (F=171.940) in IRL group and non-IRL group on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were significantly lower than that in normal persons (P＜0.05). There were significant differences among three groups of the area of FAZ (F=4.315), AI (F=3.413), FD-300 (F=13.592) (P＜0.05). BCVA were worst in IRL group (P＜0.05). ConclusionsBlood flow density decreased in macular area of FEVR patients. CMT is significantly thicker than normal population. The FAZ area of the foveal IRL residual eyes is small and irregular, with worse BCVA and lower macular blood density.
Objective To verify the significance of the morphological changes of the macula and its relationship to visual function by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after scleral buckling procdure. Methods The macula of retinae of 68 patients (70 eyes) with reattached retinae after scleral buckling operation for retinal detachment were examined by OCT to scan the macula through fovea vertically and horizontally. Results Among the 70 eyes, 22 eyes revealed normal macula with thickness of neurosensory retina meant (146.47±20.59)μm. In the other 48 eyes (68.60%) with abnormal macula, 19 eyes showed extensive subretinal interspace, 9 eyes showed local subretinal interspace, 8 eyes showed macula edema, 4 eyes showed thin macula, 4 eyes showed subretinal proliferation and 4 eye showed epiretinal membrane over macula. In the normal macular structure group under the OCT, the visual acuity (VA) of the operated eyes was more than 0.3 in 6 eyes 2 weeks after operation and in 14 eyes 3 mons after operation. In the macula edema group, the VA was more than 0.3 in 1 eye 2 weeks after opoeration and 2 eyes 3 mons after operation. In the subretinal interspace group, the VA was more than 0.3 in 5 eyes 2 weeks after operation and in 23 eyes 3 mons after operation. The proportions of the numbers of operated eyes with the VA more than 0.3 after 3 mons of the operation in macular normal group subretinal interspace group and other macular disease group were significantly different (χ2=18.91, P＜0.01). Conclusion OCT can precisely detect the structural changes of macula after retinal reattachment and assess visual function after surgery of retinal detachment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 266-268)
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the correlations between aqueous humor cytokine concentrations and disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), as well as postoperative visual acuity, in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM). MethodsA prospective clinical study. From November 2022 to October 2024, 40 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with iERM at Ophthalmology Center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital) underwent cataract surgery alone or combined with pars plana vitrectomy (iERM group) were enrolled; 19 eyes of 19 patients undergoing cataract surgery alone during the same period served as the control group. All eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). BCVA was assessed using a logarithmic visual acuity chart and converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for statistical analysis. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured using SS-OCT. The iERM group was further subdivided into DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups (21 eyes and 19 eyes, respectively), based on the presence or absence of DRIL. Aqueous humor samples were collected preoperatively from eyes in both the iERM and control groups. Concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PLGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Follow-up examinations using the same equipment and methods were performed at 1 month postoperatively. Aqueous cytokine levels were compared between the iERM group, control group, DRIL-positive subgroup, and DRIL-negative subgroup. Correlations between aqueous cytokine levels in the iERM group and BCVA or CMT were also analyzed. Intergroup comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test; correlations between variables were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis. ResultsCompared to the control group, the iERM group exhibited significantly higher aqueous concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, and TNF-α (P＜0.05). Compared to the DRIL-negative subgroup, the DRIL-positive subgroup showed significantly elevated aqueous concentrations of TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, Ang-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P＜0.05). Significant differences were observed in logMAR BCVA (P=0.028) and CMT (P＜0.001) within the iERM group between preoperative and 1-month postoperative measurements. LogMAR BCVA differed significantly between the DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups (P=0.048). Correlation analysis revealed that baseline aqueous levels of VEGF-A and IL-6 in eyes with DRIL were positively correlated with postoperative BCVA (r=0.324, 0.452; P=0.042, 0.003). No significant correlation was found between CMT and any cytokine (P＞0.05). ConclusionsAqueous humor cytokines are closely associated with DRIL in iERM patients. IL-6 and VEGF-A may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for early postoperative visual recovery.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the influencing factors for the prognosis of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug treatment in patients with macular neovascularization (MNV) under 45 years old. MethodsA retrospective clinical case study. A total of 89 MNV patients with 96 eyes who were diagnosed and treated with anti-VEGF drugs in Department of Ophthalmology of The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2020 to January 2024 were included in the study. The ages of all patients were ＜45 years old. All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations; 49 eyes underwent OCT angiography (OCTA) examination. The BCVA examination was carried out using the international standard visual acuity chart and was converted into the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity for statistics. The macular foveal thickness (CMT) was measured using an OCT instrument. The size of the MNV lesion was measured using the software of the OCTA self-contained device. The affected eyes were given intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs once, and then the drugs were administered as needed after evaluation. The follow-up time after treatment was ≥6 months. During the follow-up, relevant examinations were performed using the same equipment and methods as before treatment. The last follow-up was taken as the time point for efficacy evaluation. According to the OCT image characteristics of the MNV lesions, the affected eyes were divided into the fibrous scar group and the non-fibrous scar group, with 52 (54.16%, 52/96) and 44 (45.83%, 44/96) eyes respectively. Comparing the CMT and BCVA at the last follow-up with those at the baseline, the affected eyes were divided into the CMT reduction group, the CMT increase group, the BCVA improvement group and the BCVA reduction group, with 66 (68.75%, 66/96), 30 (31.25%, 30/96) eyes and 74 (77.08%, 74/96), 22 (22.92%, 22/96) eyes respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of non-normally distributed measurement data between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent factors affecting the prognosis of MNV patients. ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in the age (Z=?0.928) and gender composition ratio (χ2= 0.123) between the fibrous scar group and the non-fibrous scar group (P＞0.05); there were statistically significant differences in the number of eyes with a follow-up time of ≥36 months and ＜36 months (χ2= 3.906, P=0.048); there were statistically significant differences in the size of the MNV lesions (Z=?2.385, P=0.017); there were statistically significant differences in the number of eyes with different vascular network morphologies (χ2=12.936, P=0.001). Before treatment and at the last follow-up, the CMT of the affected eyes was 267.50 (237.25, 311.75) μm and 242.00 (217.25, 275.75) μm respectively; logMAR BCVA was 0.20 (0.10, 0.50) and 0.35 (0.16, 0.60) logMAR respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the CMT and logMAR BCVA before treatment and at the last follow-up (Z=?3.311,?1.984; P=0.001, 0.047). There were statistically significant differences in different ages (Z=?2.284), myopic diopter (χ2=7.437), etiology (χ2=6.956), and disease course (Z=?1.687) between the CMT reduction group and the CMT increase group (P＜0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the number of eyes with different subjective feelings between the BCVA improvement group and the BCVA reduction group (χ2=10.133, P＜0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the etiology was an independent risk factor for CMT thickening. ConclusionsAge, etiology, myopic diopter, disease course, follow-up time, lesion size and the morphology of the neovascular network are the influencing factors for the prognosis of anti-VEGF drug treatment in MNV patients under 45 years old. The etiology is an independent risk factor for CMT increase.
ObjectiveTo comparatively observe optical coherence tomography (OCT) image features between traumatic macular hole (TMH) and idiopathic macular hole (IMH). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. A total of 174 patients (174 eyes) with macular hole (MH) diagnosed at Shantou International Eye Center from December 2008 to May 2024 were included in the study. Among them, there were 75 patients (75 eyes) with TMH and 99 patients (99 eyes) with IMH, and they were divided into the TMH group and the IMH group accordingly. All the affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT examinations. The BCVA was examined using a standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and was converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity for statistical analysis. The minimum diameter and basal diameter of the MH, as well as the average, nasal, superior, inferior, and temporal center retinal thickness (CRT) around the MH were measured by OCT. The independent-sample t test was used to compare the logMAR BCVA, hole diameter, and CRT at the hole margin between the groups. ResultsThere were significant differences in age (t=?15.857) and gender ratio (χ2=28.154) between the TMH group and the IMH group (P＜0.05), while there was no significant difference in logMAR BCVA (t=1.962, P＞0.05). The minimum diameter of the hole in the TMH group was smaller than that in the IMH group, but the basal diameter was larger, with significant differences (t=?3.322, 2.570; P＜0.05). The thickness of the neuroepithelial layer at the hole margin in the TMH group was thinner than that in the IMH group, with significant differences in the superior (t=?2.747), inferior (t=?2.316), and nasal (t=?2.851) regions (P＜0.05), and no significant difference in the temporal region (t=?1.586, P＞0.05). In the TMH group, the number of eyes with macular cystoid edema (CME), posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), retinal atrophy, subretinal hemorrhage, choroidal laceration, and focal neuroepithelial detachment was 36 (48.00%, 36/75), 4 (5.33%, 4/75), 4 (5.33%, 4/75), 15 (20.00%, 15/75), 8 (10.67%, 8/75), and 19 (25.33%, 19/75) eyes, respectively. In the IMH group, the number of eyes with CME and PVD was 95 (95.96%, 95/99) and 94 (94.95%, 94/99) eyes, respectively. ConclusionCompared with IMH, TMH has a larger basal diameter, a thinner CRT at the hole margin, a lower incidence of CME and PVD, and a higher incidence of subretinal hemorrhage, focal neuroepithelial detachment, choroidal laceration, and retinal atrophy.