Choroidal Changes in Blood Flow in Patients with Intermediate AMD after Oral Dietary Supplement Based on Astaxanthin, Bromelain, Vitamin D3, Folic Acid, Lutein, and Antioxidants.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral administration of the combination of astaxanthin (AXT), lutein, folic acid, vitamin D3, and bromelain with antioxidants on choroidal blood flow in patients with age-related intermediate macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods: Patients affected by intermediate AMD and treated with daily oral nutritional supplement with AXT, bromelain, vitamin D3, folic acid, lutein, and antioxidants for a period of at least 6 months were included in this retrospective study. A control group homogenous for age and sex was also included in the analysis. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) evaluation. Outcome measures were choroidal thickness (CHT) and choriocapillary vessel density (CCVD) after six months of AXT assumption. Results: CCVD values showed statistically significant difference between cases and controls at baseline (p < 0.001) and in the cases during follow-up (p < 0.001). The CHT measurements showed statistically significant difference between cases and controls (p = 0.002) and in the cases during follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The combined use of structural OCT and OCTA allows for a detailed analysis in vivo of perfusion parameters of the choriocapillaris and choroid and evaluation of changes of choroidal blood flow after oral nutritional supplements that affect blood flow velocity.

Functional and Structural Reliability of Optic Nerve Head Measurements in Healthy Eyes by Means of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Background and Objectives: the aim of the study was to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of optical microangiography (OMAG)-based optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the optic nerve head (ONH) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) perfusion assessment of healthy eyes. Materials and Methods: in this observational study, a total of 40 healthy subjects underwent ONH evaluation, using an OMAG-based OCTA system at baseline (T0), after 30 min (T1), and after 7 days (T2). The main outcome measures were the vessel density (VD) and flux index (FI) of the RPCs, as well as peri-papillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness. The analysis was performed by two observers independently. The coefficient of repeatability (CR), within the subject coefficient of variation (CVw) and intrasession correlation coefficient (ICC), to evaluate intrasession repeatability of measurements was calculated for each observer. Results: the high intrasession and intersession repeatability and reproducibility were assessed in the two observers for all three outcome measures. Of note, the CRs for the first and the second observer were 0.011 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.009-0.014) and 0.016 (95% CI 0.013-0.020) for FI, 0.016 (95% CI 0.013-0.021) and 0.017 (95% CI 0.014-0.021) for VD, and 2.400 (95% CI 1.948-3.092) and 3.732 (95% CI 3.064-4.775) for pRNFL thickness, respectively. The agreement between them was excellent for pRNFL assessment and very good for FI and VD. Conclusion: OCTA has a great potential in the accurate assessment of ONH and peri-papillary microcirculation. It allows for repeated and reproducible measurements without multiple scans-related bias, thus guaranteeing an independent operator analysis with good reproducibility and repeatability.

ADULT-ONSET FOVEOMACULAR VITELLIFORM DYSTROPHY EVALUATED BY MEANS OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY: A Comparison With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Healthy Eyes.

PURPOSE: To investigate alterations of superficial and deep retinal vascular densities, as well as of choroidal thickness, in patients affected by adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy (AOFVD). METHODS: A total of 22 eyes (15 patients) affected by AOFVD were recruited in the study. Furthermore, 20 eyes of 20 healthy subjects and 20 eyes of 18 patients affected by intermediate dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were enrolled. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including optical coherence tomography angiography. Outcome measures were superficial vessel density, deep vessel density, and choroidal thickness. RESULTS: Parafoveal superficial vessel density was increased in patients with AOFVD compared with the AMD group (50.6 ± 4.3% and 46.3 ± 4.3%, respectively, P = 0.016). Parafoveal deep vessel density was 57.9 ± 6.4% in patients with AOFVD, 52.2 ± 3.8% in patients with AMD, and 52.7 ± 6.0% in healthy controls (P = 0.006 and P = 0.035, respectively, after comparison with the AOFVD group). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that both superficial and deep vessel densities were significantly increased in patients with AOFVD, after the comparison with intermediate patients with AMD. These findings suggest that the pathogenic mechanisms in AOFVD are different from those in AMD and that optical coherence tomography angiography could be useful in differentiate early stages of these two diseases.

Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in Susac's syndrome: a case report.

PURPOSE: To report clinical features of Susac's syndrome (SS) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 25-year-old Caucasian female with a history of non-pulsatile migraine, tinnitus, and verbal apraxia complaining of peripheral scotoma in left eye due to branch retinal arteriole occlusion (BRAO) was diagnosed as having SS after audiometric test, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and multimodal retinal imaging. Fundus biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed the presence of retinal ischemia in the area of BRAO. The OCTA images showed decreased vascular perfusion of both superficial and deep plexuses in the area of the occluded arteriole with increase of vascular density values after treatment with intravenous glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: OCTA offers a valid alternative to the standard invasive FA, evaluating vascular perfusion in all capillary plexuses, and monitoring retinal microvascular flow changes during the course of BRAO, without dye injection.

Microvascular changes after vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling: an optical coherence tomography angiography study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate superficial capillary plexus (SCP) changes occurring after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for the treatment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS: A total of 15 eyes of 15 patients affected by idiopathic ERM (eight males and seven females; mean age 59.8 ± 9.6 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with pars plana vitrectomy followed by ERM and ILM peeling. Subjects were evaluated at baseline and at the week-1 and month-1 follow-up visits. At each visit, patients were evaluated with a complete ophthalmologic evaluation, which included imaging with optical coherence tomography angiography. RESULTS: Overall, the SCP vessel density was 43.0 ± 3.0% at baseline and was stable throughout the follow-up (40.0 ± 4.0% at week-1 and 41.0 ± 4.0% at month-1 follow-up visits; p = 0.087 and p = 0.426, respectively). Nevertheless, the SCP vessel density was reduced at week-1 visit in both the superior and inferior sectors. In these sectors, the superficial vessel density was still reduced at the month-1 follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a reduction in the SCP vessel density occurring after pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling. The reduction is referred to those areas where other changes (e.g., swelling of the arcuate nerve fiber layer) have been already described. In theory, superficial vessel density modifications may be due to the direct surgical trauma to the inner retina, where the superficial plexus is contained, during the ILM grasping.

OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY ASSESSMENT OF VASCULAR EFFECTS OCCURRING AFTER AFLIBERCEPT INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS IN TREATMENT-NAIVE PATIENTS WITH WET AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PURPOSE: To investigate vessel changes occurring after aflibercept injections in treatment-naive exudative age-related macular degeneration patients. METHODS: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients affected by wet age-related macular degeneration were enrolled in the study. All the patients had a diagnosis of Type 1 choroidal neovascularization and were treated with 3 monthly aflibercept intravitreal injections (IVI). Subjects were evaluated by means of optical coherence tomography angiography at baseline, the day after the first injection and one month after both the first and the second IVI. At last, all the patients were followed up to 2 months after the third IVI. RESULTS: Foveal superficial vascular plexus flow density was 29.01% (21.13-37.32%) at baseline and was significantly reduced as soon as 1 month after the first IVI (median: 20.78%; interquartile range: 14.75-23.13%; P = 0.017). Parafoveal superficial vascular plexus flow density was 47.09% (44.91-51.72%) at baseline and significantly decreased as soon as 1 month after the second IVI (median: 44.40%; interquartile range: 41.59-49.29%; P = 0.034). Choroidal neovascularization lesion area remained stable throughout the follow-up. Nevertheless, interestingly, choroidal neovascularization flow area was significantly reduced as soon as the next day the first IVI (median: 0.37 mm and interquartile range: 0.27-0.72 mm at baseline; median: 0.30 mm and interquartile range: 0.24-0.64 mm at 1 day after the first IVI; P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal aflibercept injections are associated with a significant change in native retinal and choroidal vasculature. Moreover, the treatment did not cause a reduction in lesion area, but rather reduced the flow in the choroidal neovascularization.

RETINAL VASCULAR PLEXUSES' CHANGES IN DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION, EVALUATED BY MEANS OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To investigate alteration in superficial and deep retinal vascular densities and choroidal thickness, in patients affected by early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: All patients had undergone optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). All eyes were grouped into two stages: "early AMD" and "intermediate AMD." Outcome measures were superficial vessel density, deep vessel density, and choroidal thickness. A control group of healthy subjects was selected for the statistical comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 37 eyes of 37 dry AMD patients were enrolled for the study. Fourteen of 37 eyes were classified as having early AMD, the remaining 23 of 37 eyes were classified as being affected by intermediate AMD. Superficial and deep vessel densities were 39.21% ± 10.67% and 43.84% ± 11.57%, respectively, in the control group and 28.30% ± 10.73% and 36.41% ± 12.30%, respectively, in AMD patients (P = 0.001 and P = 0.017, respectively). Choroidal thickness was significantly reduced in AMD patients. CONCLUSION: In the last years, several studies have reported vascular factors playing an important role in AMD pathogenesis. We demonstrated that both superficial and deep retinal plexuses are altered among patients affected by AMD. Interestingly, this alteration starts immediately at the intermediate AMD stage and also the choroidal thickness reduction.

BESTROPHINOPATHY: A Spectrum of Ocular Abnormalities Caused by the c.614T>C Mutation in the BEST1 Gene.

PURPOSE: To describe the variable ocular phenotype associated with a heterozygous mutation in the BEST1 gene. METHODS: Clinical and genetic assessment was performed in five members of the same family. Molecular genetic analysis of the BEST1 gene was performed by direct sequencing. Extensive ophthalmic examination included color fundus imaging, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, electro-oculography (EOG), and full-field electroretinography (ERG). The main outcome measures were BEST1 mutations, imaging, and electroretinography findings. RESULTS: All affected family members carried a single heterozygous c.614T>C (p.I205T) mutation in exon 5 of the BEST1 gene. The 46-year-old proband showed nanophthalmos with chorioretinal atrophy in the macula, extensive coarse hyperpigmentation in the (mid) peripheral retina with tractional vitreous strands. Full-field ERG revealed nonrecordable cone and rod responses, and EOG showed an absent light rise. The daughter and son of the proband showed a phenotype resembling autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy, including short axial lengths, cystoid fluid collections, and shallow serous subretinal fluid accumulation on spectral domain optical coherence tomography throughout the macula in combination with mild retinal pigment epithelium changes. The son of the proband also showed subretinal yellowish deposits inferiorly in the macula as well as outside the temporal vascular arcade, that were hyperfluorescent on fundus autofluorescence, similar to those seen in autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy. Full-field ERG revealed a reduced rod and cone response and a markedly reduced or absent EOG light peak in both brother and sister of the proband. CONCLUSION: The clinical spectrum of bestrophinopathy may encompass severe ocular phenotypes that affect the development and function of the entire eye. A clinical picture similar to autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy can also be caused by a single heterozygous mutation in the BEST1 gene, such as the c.614T>C (p.I205T) variant in this family.

Reproducibility and repeatability of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness measurements in healthy subjects.

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness measurements in healthy subjects. PROCEDURES: In this observational study, 60 healthy eyes were subjected to macular GC-IPL thickness measurements by means of Cirrus™ high-definition optical coherence tomography (Cirrus version 6.0; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, Calif., USA) by two examiners in two sessions. Average, minimum and 6 sectoral GC-IPL thicknesses were measured. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility was tested and analyzed by means of the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The repeatability of measurements was assessed by the coefficient of repeatability (CR). RESULTS: Mean age (±SD) was 29.63 (±5.1) years. The CRs for average GC-IPL thickness were 2.1 and 2.2 µm for the first and the second operator, respectively. Inter- and intraobserver CCCs ranged from 0.91 (95% CI: 0.89-0.93) to 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99) and from 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88-0.94) to 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97-0.99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GC-IPL thickness measurements in young healthy subjects showed excellent reproducibility and repeatability, especially for average and sectoral GC-IPL thickness measurements.

Observed positive correlation between Epstein-Barr virus infection and focal choroidal excavation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a possible correlation between focal choroidal excavation and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. METHOD: Three eyes of three patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including visual field testing, color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography. In addition, hematological and viral infectivity were also evaluated. PATIENTS: Two females and one male with a mean age of 53.6 ± 5.6 years were studied. RESULTS: In all patients, both the anterior and posterior segment evaluations were unremarkable except for the presence of a spot with focal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) alteration. In patients 1 and 2, OCT disclosed a normal neuroretinal structure above the lesion and a focal 'punch-out' choroidal lesion with total absence of the RPE coupled with a localized hyporeflectivity in the subretinal space. In two of the three patients, OCT showed normal outer retinal layers, including the photoreceptor layer and the external limiting membrane with a hyporeflective space under the inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction. In one patient, the retinal structure appeared to descend down into the choroidal excavation with an absence of the IS/OS junction and RPE. Moreover, the outer retinal layers appeared to be deformed. In all three patients, the choriocapillaris and choroid showed significant defects as if 'punched out' and the scleral boundary was more evident. In all three patients, an active EBV infection was confirmed by hematological investigation. CONCLUSIONS: In all our patients with focal choroid anomalies, such as choroidal excavation observed by OCT, a systemic infection by the EBV was detected. A larger number of similar cases are necessary to corroborate these preliminary observations.

Multimodal imaging in diabetic retinopathy and macular edema: An update about biomarkers.

Diabetic macular edema (DME), defined as retinal thickening near, or involving the fovea caused by fluid accumulation in the retina, can lead to vision impairment and blindness in patients with diabetes. Current knowledge of retina anatomy and function and DME pathophysiology has taken great advantage of the availability of several techniques for visualizing the retina. Combining these techniques in a multimodal imaging approach to DME is recommended to improve diagnosis and to guide treatment decisions. We review the recent literature about the following retinal imaging technologies: optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography (OCTA), wide-field and ultrawide-field techniques applied to fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and OCTA. The emphasis will be on characteristic DME features identified by these imaging technologies and their potential or established role as diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive biomarkers. The role of artificial intelligence in the assessment and interpretation of retina images is also discussed.

Reproducibility and repeatability of Cirrus™ HD-OCT peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in young normal subjects.

PURPOSE: To assess the reproducibility and repeatability of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measurements using a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) device in healthy subjects. METHODS: In this observational study, 68 young Caucasian healthy volunteers (68 eyes) were subjected to Cirrus™ high-definition (HD) OCT (Zeiss) peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements by two experienced examiners in two different sessions. Average, 4-quadrant and 12-clock-hour sector RNFL thicknesses were analysed. For each option, intra-observer, intrasession repeatability and interobserver, intersession reproducibility were tested. To assess the repeatability of measurements, the Bland and Altman plots were used and the coefficient of repeatability was calculated. Interobserver and intersession reproducibilities were analysed by means of concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs). RESULTS: The sample age ranged from 21 to 39 years (mean 29.09, standard deviation ±5.21). The average RNFL thickness ranged from 90.97 to 91.46 and from 91.34 to 91.78 µm, for the first and the second operator, respectively. The highest repeatability and reproducibility were obtained for average RNFL thickness with coefficients of repeatability of 5.30 and 6.05 µm for the first and the second operator, interoperator CCCs of 0.95 and 0.96 for the first and the second session, and intersession CCCs of 0.96 and 0.97 for the first and the second operator, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cirrus OCT peripapillary average RNFL thickness measurement in young healthy subjects showed high interoperator and intersession reproducibility. Intrasession repeatability as tested by coefficient of repeatability was next to the device resolution, with very similar results between the two operators. When analysing quadrant and clock hour sector RNFL thickness measurements, both repeatability and reproducibility tend to decrease.

Anti-VEGF Therapy in Myopic CNV.

In this narrative-review, we report the most recent data from the literature of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV). Myopic CNV is the most frequent sight-threatening complication of pathologic myopia. The natural course of mCNV can result in expanding macular atrophy and /or fibrosis, leading to irreversible visual loss after 5 years. Retinal multimodal imaging is mandatory for early diagnosis and monitoring of the disease during treatment. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is recommended as the first-line treatment option for mCNV. Prompt treatment of active mCNV with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in terms of visual outcome improvements reducing the occurrence of late-stage complications.

Biomarkers in Early Response to Brolucizumab on Pigment Epithelium Detachment Associated with Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe early changes in the morphology of pigment epithelium detachments (PED) after an intravitreal injection of Brolucizumab into eyes with macular neovascularization secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (e-AMD). METHOD: We included twelve eyes of 12 patients with PED secondary to e-AMD which were not responding to prior anti-VEGF treatments. An ophthalmic examination and an assessment of PED-horizontal maximal diameter (PED-HMD), PED-maximum high (PED-MH) and macular neovascularization (MNV) flow area (MNV-FA) by the means of structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT Angiography (OCT-A) were performed at baseline, as well as 1, 7, 14 and 30 days after the injection. RESULTS: The mean age of the population of study was 78.4 (SD ± 4.8). The mean number of previous Ranibizumab or Aflibercept injections was 13 (SD ± 8). At the last follow-up visit, the PED-HMD did not significantly change (p = 0.16; F(DF:1.94, 20,85) = 1.9), the PED-MH showed a significant reduction [p = 0.01; F(DF:1.31, 14.13) = 6.84.] and the MNV-FA did not significantly differ (p = 0.1; F(1.97, 21.67) = 2.54) from baseline. No signs of ocular inflammation were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A single Brolucizumab injection was able to determine the short-term effects on PEDs' anatomical features of eyes with an unresponsive e-AMD.

Fluorescein angiography versus optical coherence tomography angiography: FA vs OCTA Italian Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the current role of fluorescein angiography after the introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography in real-life clinical practice. METHODS: This was a multicentric retrospective observational study to evaluate the number of fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography angiography procedures performed by different devices from January 2013 to December 2018. The centers involved were Centro Italiano Macula (Rome), and ophthalmology departments of University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara (Chieti) and "Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi" (Florence). RESULTS: Out of 19,898 total fluorescein angiography procedures performed in the observation period, 3444 (17.3%) were in 2013, 3972 (19.9%) were in 2014, 3601 (18.1%) were in 2015, 3407 (17.2%) were in 2016, 3285 (16.5%) were in 2017, and 2189 (11%) were in 2018. Out of 7949 optical coherence tomography angiography procedures performed in the observation period, none were performed in 2013, 550 (6.9%) were in 2014, 908 (11.5%) were in 2015, 2098 (26.4%) were in 2016, 2090 (26.3%) were in 2017, and 2303 (28.9%) were in 2018. CONCLUSION: Fluorescein angiography procedures were performed less often after the introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography technology. The ease, speed, and safety of the optical coherence tomography angiography procedure in everyday clinical practice have facilitated more optical coherence tomography angiography application compared to fluorescein angiography in recent years. In the future, we will probably evaluate the different pathologies that still need an evaluation by fluorescein angiography.

Type 1 Choroidal Neovascularization Evolution by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: Long-Term Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate structural changes in response to antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in patients with long-term type 1 choroidal neovascularization (CNV) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). METHOD: This is a longitudinal study that involved a total of 51 eyes with type 1 CNV (35 female and 16 male eyes). Structural OCT and OCTA were performed on all the subjects. AngioVue OCTA (XR Avanti, Optovue, Inc., Fremont, CA) was used to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. All eyes were treated with an anti-VEGF ProReNata (PRN) approach and were followed for a mean of 38.9 months (SD ± 7.22). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was assessed at each follow-up timepoint. RESULTS: We observed two kinds of possible evolution of type 1 CNV: "positive evolution," including stabilization in 20% of patients and chronicity in 35%, and "negative evolution," in which fibrosis was shown in 18% of patients, chorioretinal atrophy in 25%, and hemorrhage or RPE tears in 2%. The mean BCVA at baseline was 33.67 ± 15.85 ETDRS letters; after 1 and 2 years, it was 31.61 ± 18.04 and 31.18 ± 18.58 ETDRS letters, respectively. The mean BCVA at the end of follow-up was 25.27 ± 20 ETDRS letters. The difference between the values at baseline and at the end of follow-up was not statistically significant (P = 0.06, r 2 = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: This study describes an in vivo structural long-term evolution of type 1 CNV by OCT and OCTA. Different possible CNV outcomes were observed. This study suggests that new retinal imaging techniques could be useful tools for assessing the potential retinal changes in the evolution of type 1 CNV to develop personalized medicine. Further studies using OCTA in the long term are needed to better understand why similarly treated type 1 CNV cases evolve differently and produce different results.

Retinal vascular metrics difference by comparison of two image acquisition modes using a novel OCT angiography prototype.

PURPOSE: To assess the different impact of two enface OCTA image simultaneously acquired by means of a new prototype of Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SD-OCTA) on quantitative retinal vascular metrics. METHODS: In this prospective observational cross-sectional study 28 healthy subjects were enrolled. Macular (3x3 mm) OCTA images were acquired for all participants using Solix Fullrange OCT (Optovue Inc, Freemont CA, USA). The main outcome measurements were: Perfusion density (PD), vessel length density (VLD), and vessel diameter index (VDI) of both superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC) total flow-deficits area. Quantitative retinal vascular metrics were measured on binarized and skeletonized OCTA images by comparing not averaged and fast automated multiple averaged en face OCTA images. RESULTS: In both SCP and DCP, PD significantly increased (p = 0,005 and p = 0,030, respectively), and VLD significantly decreased (p<0,001 and p = 0,004, respectively), and VDI increased (p<0,001 and p = 0,068, respectively), and total CC flow deficits area significantly decreased (p<0,001) by averaging multiple OCTA images. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found a significant difference of quantitative retinal metrics by comparing two different image acquisition modes using a novel and fully automated averaging OCTA system in young healthy subjects.

Angiographic biomarkers of filtering bleb function after XEN gel implantation for glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography-angiography study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate, using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A), the vascular features of good bleb function after XEN gel implantation (XGI) for uncontrolled glaucoma. METHODS: Forty-three patients (43 eyes), who underwent XGI, were enrolled. According to the intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, patients were classified into Group 1 (21 eyes; success) and Group 2 (22 eyes; failure). Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) was performed to image the vascularization of the conjunctival bleb-wall. The main outcomes were as follows: vessel displacement areas (VDAs), major vessel displacement area (MVDA; mm2 ), non-flow whole area (NFWA; mm2 ) and bleb-wall vessel density (BVD; %). Co-registered B-scans were also considered to evaluate the bleb-wall cyst-like structure density and area (BCSD, cysts/mm2 ; BCSA, mm2 ), and the bleb-wall thickness (BT, µm). RESULTS: Mean postoperative follow-up was 7.5 ± 0.14 months; Group 1 and 2 IOP were 14.0 ± 2.5 and 25.3 ± 2.1 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.001). Greater VDA (p < 0.001), MVDA (p = 0.046) and NFWA (p = 0.001) values, and lower BVD (p < 0.001) was found in Group 1 compared to Group 2. Group 1 showed higher BSCD, BSCA and BT values compared to Group 2 (p < 0.001). Postoperative IOP positively correlated with BVD (r = 0.567; p = 0.003), but negatively with VDAs, MVDA (r = -0.581, p = 0.002; r = -0.619, p = 0.001, respectively), BCSD, BCSA (r = -0.580; p = 0.002; r = -0.664; p < 0.001) and BT (r = -0.627, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Successful filtration blebs after XGI present numerous and large areas of vessel displacement within the bleb-wall, along with a rarefied vascular network. These OCT-A features can be considered angiographic biomarkers of a good aqueous humour percolation through the bleb-wall layers.

A Custom-Made Semiautomatic Analysis of Retinal Nonperfusion Areas After Dexamethasone for Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of retinal capillary nonperfusion areas and retinal capillary vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus in patients with diabetes with diabetic macular edema treated with an intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI). Methods: We enrolled 28 patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema candidates to IDI. All patients underwent widefield optical coherence tomography angiography with PLEX Elite 9000 device with 15 × 9 mm scans centered on the foveal center at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 4 months after IDI. In all the patients, the variation of the retinal capillary nonperfusion areas and of the retinal vessel density of the SCP and deep capillary plexus were calculated using an automatic software written in Matlab (MathWorks, Natick, MA). Results: During follow-up, SCP showed a statistically significant reduction of ischemic areas at 1 month after IDI (P = 0.04) and slightly increased not significantly thereafter (P = 0.15). The percentage of nonperfusion areas changed from 11.4% at baseline, to 6.3% at 1 month, 8.1%, at 2 months, and 10.2% at 4 months. The whole vessel density of SCP slightly increased (not significantly) from 35.30% at baseline to 38.00% at 1 month, and then decreased to 37.85% at 2 months and 36.04% at 4 months (P = 0.29). Retinal capillary nonperfusion areas and retinal vessel density at the deep capillary plexus did not change significantly (P = 0.31 and P = 0.73, respectively). Conclusions: Widefield optical coherence tomography angiography showed a decrease in retinal capillary nonperfusion areas after dexamethasone implant suggesting a possible drug-related reperfusion of retinal capillaries particularly evident in the early period. Translational Relevance: A custom-made automatic analysis of retinal nonperfusion areas may allow a better and precise evaluation of ischemic changes after intravitreal therapy.

Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Assessment of Bursa Premacularis in Healthy Eyes.

PURPOSE: To describe the reliability and the limits of bursa premacularis (BPM) evaluation using a swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) device with enface and 16 mm-high definition (HD) longitudinal scans. METHODS: 60 eyes of 60 subjects were enrolled and imaged with SS-OCT system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). BPM area was measured using enface scans imported to ImageJ. HD horizontal and vertical longitudinal scans centered at the fovea were used to detect width (W) and central thickness (CT) of BPM at baseline (T0) and after 30 minutes (T30) performed by two different observers. An enhanced vitreous visualization software provided by the manufacturer of the device was used to highlight vitreous structures. RESULTS: BPM was identifiable in 100% of eyes using both horizontal and vertical longitudinal scans. On horizontal scan, BPM was not entirely measurable in 21.7% and in 18.3% of cases at T0 and T30, respectively. On vertical scan, BPM was not entirely measurable in 75.0% and in 81.7% at T0 and T30, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the two different time measurements with an intraclass correlation coefficient above 70%. Median BPM area was 26.9 (Q1-Q3: 19.5-40.5) mm2. In en face imaging, the most frequent BPM shape was the boat one. CONCLUSION: SS-OCT is a reliable tool for a detailed quantification and mapping of BPM, and it is able to add useful details about the morphological BPM features in youth population. However, the enhanced visualization of the vitreous structures is still a challenge, also with the most forefront devices.