Retinal Neovascularization Secondary to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Characterized by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

To characterize retinal neovascularization and accompanying retinal and vitreal morphological changes in diabetic patients using high-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

 

Methods:

 

A cross-sectional retrospective analysis was performed on 15 eyes of 13 nonconsecutive subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy that were seen between August 2011 and November 2011 at the New England Eye Center, Boston, Massachusetts. When areas suspicious for neovascularization (NV) or intraretinal microvascular abnormality (IRMA) was found on clinical exam, an OCT image was obtained in the region of the abnormal blood vessels.

 

Results:

 

Characteristic changes of the vasculature, retina and vitreous were seen in the 15 eyes with diabetic neovascularization. On OCT, NV appears as hyperreflective loops of relatively homogenous hyperreflectivity with vessels projecting through the posterior hyaloid and into the vitreous (1d). IRMA lesions did not project into the vitreous (1c). Traction from NV with accompanying retinal detachment was observed. The detached retina has lost its architectural organization, and cystic spaces were present (2).

 

Conclusions:

 

It is possible to image diabetic NV using SD-OCT and to visualize the spectrum of retinal, retinal vascular and vitreal changes seen in these areas of abnormal retinal vasculature. OCT may be useful to monitor subtle changes such as progression of the neovascularization and traction on the retina over time.  

 

 

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • retinal neovascularization