Assessment of macular function in patients with non-vascularized pigment epithelial detachment.

Non-vascularized pigment epithelial detachments (PED) are usually associated with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between visual function and morphologic parameters. Seventeen eyes of eleven patients with non-vascularized AMD were enrolled. In addition to conventional optical coherence tomography (OCT), polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) measurements were performed by evaluating the regularity of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) entropy within the PED area. Retinal sensitivity was measured with MP-3 microperimetry, and retinal sensitivities within (RSin) and outside (RSout) the PED area were calculated. The relationship between OCT parameters and visual function was analyzed. As a result, there was a significant difference between the RSin and RSout (p < 0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Moreover, RSin was significantly related to logMAR VA (p = 0.033, linear mixed model). The regularity of RPE entropy was significantly related to visual acuity and RSin (p = 0.00038, p = 0.031, linear mixed model), although neither the height nor area of PED correlated with visual function. Our results suggest that retinal sensitivity is significantly deteriorated within the PED area and RPE entropy measured with PS-OCT was closely related to visual function in eyes with non-vascularized PED.

Three-Dimensional Distribution Of Fundus Depolarization and Associating Factors Measured Using Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: To investigate the three-dimensional distribution and associating demographic factors of depolarization, using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), to evaluate melanin pigmentation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid in healthy eyes. Methods: In total, 39 unaffected healthy eyes of 39 subjects were examined using a PS-OCT clinical prototype. The degree of depolarization, expressed as the polarimetric entropy, was assessed in the RPE, the superficial and the total choroid layer, especially in the center, the inner, or the outer areas centered at the fovea. The values and their association with the demographic data were analyzed. Near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIRAF) was also used, in the same manner, for the comparison. Twenty-eight of 39 eyes were measured twice to evaluate intrasession repeatability. Results: Both the polarimetric entropy in the RPE and the gray level in NIRAF, decreased from the center to the periphery (P < 0.001). The polarimetric entropy in the RPE was significantly associated with age in each area (P ≤ 0.001). In the RPE and the superficial choroid, the polarimetric entropy was negatively associated with axial length in each area (P ≤ 0.002). The intraclass correlation coefficient of the polarimetric entropy in the same session was excellent in each area of the RPE, superficial choroid, or total choroid layer (0.94-0.98). Conclusions: The distribution of fundus melanin pigment-related depolarization was evaluated using PS-OCT. The depolarization was associated with the subjects' demographic data, such as age or axial length. Translational Relevance: The presented information in healthy eyes provides an essential basis for the investigation into a variety of chorioretinal pathologies.