ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To identify longitudinal changes in each retinal layer thickness in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) patients with resolved macular edema (ME). METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, CRVO patients without a recurrence of ME for more than 3 years and normal controls were enrolled. Each retinal layer thickness of the parafoveal area, including ganglion cell complex (GCC), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), photoreceptor layer (PRL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was measured. After the resolution of ME, three more examinations with a 1-year interval were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 98 eyes were enrolled, 50 eyes for the control group and 48 eyes for the CRVO group. The baseline GCC thickness was 114.2 ± 15.6 µm and 104.2 ± 25.4 µm in the control and CRVO groups, respectively, which was significantly different (P = 0.022). The thicknesses of other layers including INL, OPL, ONL, PRL, and RPE were not significantly different at baseline. The reduction rate of GCC, INL, OPL, and ONL was - 3.92, - 1.33, - 0.91, and - 2.31 µm/year in the CRVO group, whereas no significant reductions were observed in the control group. Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly associated with changes in the GCC, OPL, and ONL in the CRVO group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CRVO, even in the absence of recurrent ME, retinal damage progresses over time, evidenced by thinning of the inner retina and outer retina including OPL and ONL. These changes may be associated with alterations in visual function.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To identify damage to the inner retinal layer and microvasculature in the peripapillary area according to the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: Patients were divided into four groups: control (group 1), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) without DR (group 2), mild to moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR) (group 3), and severe NPDR (group 4). The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and peripapillary vessel density (VD) were compared. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the DR severity. RESULTS: The average pRNFL thicknesses were 96.2 ± 7.1, 94.1 ± 9.6, 92.0 ± 9.9, and 90.3 ± 12.4 µm in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (P = 0.003) (post hoc analyses: group 1 vs. group 2, P = 0.529; group 2 vs. group 3, P = 0.627; group 2 vs. group 4, P = 0.172; group 3 vs. group 4, P = 0.823). The VDs of the outer ring were 18.9 ± 0.6, 18.4 ± 0.8, 17.9 ± 1.1, and 17.3 ± 1.6 mm-1 in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (P < 0.001) (all pairwise comparisons, P < 0.050). In multivariate analysis, the VD of the outer ring (B = - 0.35, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with the DR severity. CONCLUSIONS: The peripapillary microvasculature reflects retinal damage following DR progression better than the structure of the pRNFL.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To identify the macular neovascularization (MNV) features in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients who exhibited residual fluid after receiving three loading doses of aflibercept. METHODS: Patients were classified into two groups: Group 1, which did not exhibit intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF), and Group 2, which did exhibit IRF and/or SRF. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features were assessed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 101 eyes were enrolled; 65 for Group 1 and 36 for Group 2. No significant differences were found in baseline MNV size (2.94 ± 2.51 µm2 vs. 2.22 ± 2.26 µm2, P = 0.178) or vessel density (47.1 ± 15.4 % vs. 41.3 ± 10.5%, P = 0.052) between Groups 1 and 2. There were significant differences in the presence of loops (52.3% vs. 75%, P = 0.026) and peripheral arcades (29.2% vs. 55.6%, P < 0.001) at baseline between the two groups. In Group 1, there was a significant reduction in the presence of branching (P < 0.001) and loops (P = 0.016) after treatment. In Group 2, only the presence of branching decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after treatment. Multivariable analysis revealed that the presence of a peripheral arcade (B = 4.77, P = 0.001) was significantly associated with residual fluid. CONCLUSIONS: Although responding to treatment, the presence of loops and peripheral arcades in exudative AMD patients may contribute to residual fluid following the three loading doses of aflibercept. The peripheral arcade, in particular, may play a more significant role in the presence of residual fluid.