Optical coherence tomography angiography for the detection of macular neovascularization-comparison of en face versus cross-sectional view.

PURPOSE: To evaluate sensitivity and specificity of swept source-optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) en face images versus cross-sectional OCTA versus a combination of both for the detection of macular neovascularization (MNV). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients with various chorioretinal diseases and subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) and/or pigment epithelial detachment (PED) on OCT possibly corresponding to MNV in at least one eye. METHODS: 102 eyes of 63 patients with fluorescein angiography (FA), OCT and SS-OCTA performed on the same day were included. FA images, the outer retina to choriocapillaris (ORCC) OCTA en face slab, a manually modified en face slab ('custom slab'), cross-sectional OCTA and a combination of OCTA en face and cross-section were evaluated for presence of MNV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity for MNV detection, as well as the concordance was calculated using FA as the reference. RESULTS: OCTA en face imaging alone yielded a sensitivity of 46.3% (automated)/78.1% (custom) and specificity of 93.4% (automated)/88.5% (custom) for MNV detection. Cross-sectional OCTA (combination with en face) resulted in a sensitivity of 85.4% (82.9%) and specificity of 82.0% (85.3%). Concordance to FA was moderate for automated en face OCTA (κ = 0.43), and substantial for custom en face OCTA (κ = 0.67), cross-sectional OCTA (κ = 0.66) and the combination (κ = 0.68). CONCLUSION: Segmentation errors result in decreased sensitivity for MNV detection on automatically generated OCTA en face images. Cross-sectional OCTA allows detection of MNV without manual modification of segmentation lines and should be used for evaluation of MNV on OCTA.

LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF ASYMMETRIC BILATERAL DIFFUSE UVEAL MELANOCYTIC PROLIFERATION IN A PATIENT WITH METASTASIZED UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation over 30 months follow-up. METHODS: Multimodal imaging including ultra-wide-field color fundus photography, blue light fundus autofluorescence, swept-source optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: A 49-year-old woman presented with decreased vision 2 months after bladder cancer surgery. Exudative retinal detachment and leopard spot pattern chorioretinopathy were observed in the right eye. Chemotherapy and cystectomy were initiated. Progressive bilateral vision loss occurred with melanocytic proliferation, choroidal thickening, subretinal fibrosis, fluid extravasation, rapid development of mature cataract, multiple iris cysts, and rubeosis, despite plasmapheresis and IV immunoglobulins. After cataract surgery, massive fibrin reaction resulted in a ciliolenticular block. One year later, positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed absence of metastases. At Month 23, choroidal thickness increased in line with tumor progression. Palliative systemic therapy was initiated. Secondary macular neovascularization was treated with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections. Visual acuity was light perception in the right eye and 20/200 in the left eye at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation results in progressive melanocyte proliferation and exudation, leading to severe visual loss. In our case, visual acuity was preserved at a low level in one eye under continuous systemic treatment. Systemic corticosteroids are recommended for cataract surgery in the setting of bilateral diffuse uveal melanocytic proliferation to prevent massive fibrin reaction. Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections may be indicated if secondary macular neovascularization develops.

Impact of Early Intraocular Pressure Elevation on Postoperative Outcomes After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Non-glaucoma Patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of transient elevations in postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) on the clinical outcome of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) surgery in non-glaucoma patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from a prospective database of eyes without preexisting glaucoma that underwent DMEK with 90% anterior chamber and 20% sulfur hexafluoride endotamponade. Group A included eyes without postoperative IOP increase (IOP <30 mm Hg and a relative increase from preoperative value <10 mm Hg). Group B included eyes with IOP elevation (postoperative IOP ≥30 mm Hg or a relative increase from preoperative value ≥10 mm Hg) handled according to a standardized protocol. The impact of elevated IOP within 3 days after DMEK surgery was evaluated regarding best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central corneal thickness (CCT), and endothelial cell count (ECC) at 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six eyes from 164 patients were included. An IOP increase after DMEK occurred in 20 eyes (11.3%; 19 patients, group B), and the mean peak IOP was 48 ± 12 mm Hg (range 32-69 mm Hg). There were no significant postoperative differences in BCVA, CCT, and ECC on comparing both groups. The BCVA increased significantly (P < 0.001, respectively), whereas CCT (P < 0.001, respectively) and ECC (P < 0.001, respectively) decreased significantly from preoperative values. The rebubbling rate tended to be higher in group B without statistical significance (6.4% vs. 10%, P = 0.648). CONCLUSIONS: Temporary IOP elevation after DMEK may not affect functional and morphological outcomes in non-glaucoma patients. However, careful postoperative IOP monitoring and appropriate management are crucial to avoid irreversible ocular damage.

ACUTE EXUDATIVE POLYMORPHOUS VITELLIFORM MACULOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS INFECTION.

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. METHODS: Multimodal imaging including color fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, blue-light fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: A 24-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented with an acute bilateral visual disturbance associated with cervical lymphadenopathy. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed bilateral foveal serous retinal detachment (SRD) with thickening of the ellipsoid zone throughout the posterior pole corresponding to hyperautofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence, faint diffuse hyperfluorescence on fluorescein angiography without leakage, and mild late hyperfluorescence on indocyanine green angiography. Systemic workup revealed an acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. Within several weeks, multifocal SRDs developed in the macula and paramacula. The SRDs then became increasingly hyperautofluorescent with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showing subretinal hyperreflective material. This vitelliform material then slowly resolved while the thickness of the surrounding ellipsoid zone normalized. The fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography appeared normal at Month 8. Visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes at all times. No treatment was initiated. CONCLUSION: Acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy may be associated with an acute Epstein-Barr virus infection. Acutely, multimodal imaging revealed findings consistent with RPE dysfunction and reduced photopigment density. Subsequent accumulation of vitelliform material gradually resolved over an 8-month follow-up.

Comparison of swept-source versus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography for detection of macular neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To compare swept-source (SS) versus spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for the detection of macular neovascularization (MNV). METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 72 eyes of 54 patients with subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) and/or pigment epithelial detachment (PED) on OCT possibly corresponding to MNV in at least one eye were included. OCTA scans were acquired using two devices, the PLEX Elite 9000 SS-OCTA and the Spectralis SD-OCTA. Fluorescein angiography (FA) was used as reference. Two graders independently evaluated en face OCTA images using a preset slab as well as a manually modified slab, followed by a combination of en face and cross-sectional OCTA. RESULTS: Sensitivity (specificity) for the automated slabs was 51.7% (93.0%) for SS-OCTA versus 58.6% (95.3%) for SD-OCTA. Manual modification of segmentation increased sensitivity to 79.3% for SS-OCTA but not for SD-OCTA (58.6%). The combination of en face OCTA with cross-sectional OCTA reached highest sensitivity values (SS-OCTA: 82.8%, SD-OCTA: 86.2%), and lowest number of cases with discrepancies between SS-OCTA and SD-OCTA (4.2%). Fleiss kappa as measure of concordance between FA, SS-OCTA, and SD-OCTA was 0.56 for the automated slabs, 0.60 for the manual slabs, and 0.73 (good agreement) for the combination of en face OCTA with cross-sectional OCTA. Concordance to FA was moderate for the automated slabs and good for manual slabs and combination with cross-sectional OCTA of both devices. CONCLUSION: Both devices reached comparable results regarding the detection of MNV on OCTA. Sensitivity for MNV detection and agreement between devices was best when evaluating a combination of en face and cross-sectional OCTA.

Comparison of Automated versus Manually Modified OCT Angiography En Face Slabs for Detection of Choroidal Neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using automatically generated versus manually modified swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) en face images. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients with various chorioretinal diseases and subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) or pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) on OCT possibly corresponding to CNV in at least 1 eye. METHODS: A total of 102 eyes of 63 patients were included in this study. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and SS-OCTA imaging (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) were performed at the same day. OCTA en face images were generated using the "retina," "avascular," "choriocapillaris," and "outer retina to choriocapillaris (ORCC)" slabs automatically provided by the software. In addition, a custom slab was created by manual modification of the automatically provided boundary "retinal pigment epithelium fit" positioned at the level of Bruch's membrane and anterior to any SHRM or PED to ensure that a possible CNV was captured in its entirety. Two graders independently evaluated OCTA en face images for the presence of CNV masked to all other images of the patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity and specificity for detection of CNV using FA as the reference. RESULTS: In 40% of cases (41/102), a CNV was detected on FA. Automatically provided OCTA en face slabs revealed the highest sensitivity for the "ORCC" slab (46.3%), followed by the "retina" slab (22.0%), "avascular" slab (17.1%), and "choriocapillaris" slab (14.6%). Specificity ranged between 93.4% for "ORCC" and 100% for the "retina" and "avascular" slabs. Sensitivity could be increased to 78.1% using the custom slab with a specificity of 88.5%. Concordance between FA and OCTA en face slabs was moderate for the "ORCC" slab (κ = 0.43; range, 0.41-0.60) and substantial for the custom slab (κ = 0.67; range, 0.61-0.80). CONCLUSIONS: Segmentation artifacts and incomplete coverage of CNV on SS-OCTA en face images may impede identification of CNV. Manual modification of the position of automatically generated segmentation lines anterior and posterior to any suspected CNV (SHRM or PED) increases the sensitivity of CNV detection compared with automatically generated slabs.

[Bilateral edema in the papillomacular bundle]. / Unklare beidseitige Ödeme im papillomakulären Bündel.

Peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome (PPS) is a newly described disease entity belonging to the spectrum of pachychoroid diseases. We report on a patient with PPS.

Bevacizumab Induces Upregulation of Keratin 3 and VEGFA in Human Limbal Epithelial Cells in Vitro.

Topical application of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) inhibitors including Bevacizumab is used for antiangiogenic therapy at the ocular surface. While clinical studies have suggested that this approach is well-tolerated, the effect of the drug on limbal epithelial stem cells has not been studied. In this study, the effect of Bevacizumab on phenotype and functionality of putative limbal epithelial stem cells (SC) was investigated. The effect of Bevacizumab on human limbal epithelial cells was assessed in terms of metabolic activity and scratch wound closure. The different treatment groups featured no difference in proliferation and colony forming efficiency (CFE) of limbal epithelial cells or their putative SC marker expression. A significant delay in scratch closure of all the Bevacizumab-treated groups was detected at 4 h. RNA and protein quantification indicated a dose-responsive increase of keratin 3. VEGFA RNA expression also increased while VEGFC and D as well as VEGFR1, 2 and 3 were unchanged. This study highlights previously unknown effects of Bevacizumab on cultured putative limbal epithelial SC: a dose-related increase of keratin 3, an increase in VEGFA as well as a delay in scratch wound closure. These in vitro data should be considered when using Bevacizumab in the context of limbal epithelial SC transplantation.