Choroidal vascularity index and choroidal thickness assessment in vitiligo.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Vitiligo is a skin disease characterised by depigmentation and loss of melanocytes. Melanocyte loss may not be limited to the skin in vitiligo, and various abnormalities may occur in the choroid, which is dense in melanocytes. BACKGROUND: To evaluate structural changes in the choroid by measuring choroidal thickness and vascularity index using optical coherence tomography in patients with vitiligo and comparing them to healthy subjects. METHODS: This study included 168 participants: 84 with vitiligo (30 females, 54 males) and 84 controls (36 females, 48 males). Choroidal thickness and vascularity index were measured using the enhanced depth imaging mode in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The choroidal thickness was measured at the following five points; subfoveal (SF), 500 µm (NCT1) and 1000 µm (NCT2) nasal to the fovea; and 500 µm (TCT1) and 1000 µm (TCT2) temporal to the fovea. The choroidal vascularity index was calculated using the ImageJ software. RESULTS: SF (p < 0.001), NCT1 (p < 0.001), NCT2 (p = 0.021), TCT1 (p = 0.001), and TCT2 (p < 0.006) choroidal thicknesses were significantly smaller in the vitiligo group than in the control group. Total choroidal (p < 0.001) and stromal (p < 0.001) areas were significantly smaller in the vitiligo group than in the control group. Choroidal vascularity indices were significantly higher in the vitiligo group than in the control group (p < 0.001). However, luminal areas did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.935). CONCLUSION: Patients with vitiligo should be regularly monitored for choroidal alterations and, if necessary, referred to an ophthalmologist.

Evaluation of the segmented inner retinal layers in exfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the macular spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) measurements of the segmented inner retinal layers in patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS), exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study included 28 eyes with XFS, 47 eyes with XFG, and 29 healthy controls. Thickness of the inner retinal layers, including retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL) was obtained from the horizontal SD-OCT scans. Functional correlation of structural parameters was analyzed using the mean sensitivity (MS) values on 10-2 visual fields. RESULTS: The RNFL, GCL, and IPL were thinnest in eyes with XFG. Among these retinal layers, IPL was significantly thinner in eyes with XFS than healthy controls (p = 0.02) and the IPL thickness was significantly correlated with the corresponding MS scores on 10-2 visual fields (r = 0.492, p = 0.02) in eyes with XFS. Neither GCL nor RNFL thickness values demonstrated significant correlations with functional parameters in eyes with XFS (r = 0.377, p = 0.08; r = 0.212, p = 0.34). In eyes with XFG, the IPL thickness correlated with the visual field MS scores (r = 0.572, p = 0.0007), similar to the correlation of GCL (r = 0.585, p = 0.0005) thickness with visual field scores. CONCLUSIONS: Segmented analysis of the macular IPL thickness presented a significant correlation with the 10-2 visual field scores not only in eyes with XFG but also in eyes with XFS. With respect to early dendritic/synaptic alterations in animal models, larger and longitudinal studies are encouraged to determine the predictive value of the IPL thickness for conversion of XFS to XFG.

Alterations in the choroidal thickness and retinal vascular caliber in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To compare the choroidal thickness (CT) and retinal vascular caliber in the differentiation of patients who have keratoconus (KC) from those of astigmatic and normal patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. A total of 72 patients who had KC, 70 who had astigmatism, and 83 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. All the patients were examined using the Sirius topography system and spectral domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging. Using the digital fundus photographs, the retinal vascular calibers were calculated. The measurements were also analyzed between the KC stages according to the Amsler-Krumeich classification. RESULTS: The CT measurements were significantly higher in the KC group, when compared with the other 2 groups, in each location (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed with regards to the central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) values (P = 0.959), while significant differences were noted in the central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) among the groups (P = 0.011). Significant increases were noted in the CT as the stage of KC progressed, except at temporal 3000 µm (P = 0.603). No statistically significant difference was observed with regards to the CRAE among the stages (P = 0.901). However, the CRVE changes increased remarkably as the stages advanced (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The patients who had KC seemed to have a thicker CT and higher CRVE values than the healthy individuals, and these differences were progressively increased as the stages of KC advanced. Reflecting the vascular effects of inflammation, the high CRVE supported theories based on the inflammatory component of KC.

Densitometric analysis of cornea in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration after intravitreal aflibercept loading dose.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomic changes in the cornea and anterior segment following intravitreal aflibercept loading dose for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: The study included 40 eyes of 40 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Each patient underwent a loading dose of one injection per month for three consecutive doses of aflibercept (0.05 ml/2 mg). Before and after the loading dose, a record was made for each patient of corneal topography, anterior segment, corneal densitometry, and lens densitometry parameters with the Pentacam HR and specular microscopy parameters with a non-contact specular microscope. The data before and after the aflibercept loading dose were compared. RESULTS: Corneal densitometry parameters in the 0- to 2-mm and 2- to 6-mm concentric zones of the posterior layer were significantly higher after the loading dose compared with baseline (p = 0.03, p = 0.04, respectively). Corneal densitometry parameters of the anterior, central, and total corneal layer in the 10- to 12-mm concentric zone were also significantly higher after the loading dose compared with baseline (p = 0.009, p = 0.02, and p = 0.007, respectively). No significant changes were determined in respect of corneal topography, anterior segment, lens densitometry, and specular microscopy parameters (p > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The aflibercept loading dose caused slightly increased densitometric values in some corneal regions while it did not affect the corneal topography, anterior segment, lens densitometry, and specular microscopy parameters.