EDI-OCT in Punctate Inner Choroidopathy: Correlation of Choroidal Thickness & Choroidal Volume with Duration of the Disease

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

To assess choroidal features in Punctate Inner Choroidopathy (PIC) using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT).

 

Methods:

 

Retrospective, observational case series. Spectral domain EDI-OCT images (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) were collected from PIC patients who attended a tertiary referral uveitis clinic. Routine EDI scanning protocols were analyzed (7 OCT B-scans, 20 x 15 degree horizontal raster pattern, each B-scan generated from 50 averaged scans). Quantitative segmentation of the macular retinal and choroidal layers was performed in each patient. The choroidal layer was further segmented into Haller’s large vessel layer (HLVL) and Sattler’s medium vessel layer (SMVL). Duration of the disease, age and visual acuity (VA) were correlated with OCT findings using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

 

Results:

 

Ten eyes from ten subjects with quiescent PIC were evaluated. Mean duration of the disease was 15.9+/-13.32 months, mean age was 44.1+/-11.1 years and mean VA was 82.5+/-8.21 ETDRS letters. EDI OCTs showed a mean choroidal thickness of 220.2+/-43.5 microns and mean choroidal volume of 6.15+/-2.91 mm3 for total ETDRS area chart (macula) and 253.7+/-15.9 microns and 0.19+/-0.08 mm3 for ETDRS area 9 (fovea). All these measures showed a strong correlation with duration of the disease (r=-0.66, r=-0.68, r=-0.64, r=-0.67, all p<0.05). In choroidal layer subanalysis, HLVL thickness and volume in fovea was correlated with duration of the disease (r=-0.69; r=-0.68, p<0.05), as was SMVL thickness and volume in both macula (r=-0.70, r=-0.69) and fovea (r=-0.66, r=-0.72) (all p<0.05). None of the layers showed correlation between thickness or volume and VA. Retinal:choroidal intensity ratio was correlated with VA in macula (0.93, r=0.74) and fovea (0.85, r=0.74) (all p<0.05).

 

Conclusions:

 

EDI-OCT images of patients with PIC showed qualitative and quantitative thinning of the choroid compared to published normative data for controls. Choroidal thickness and choroidal volume in macula and fovea are strongly correlated with duration of the disease in PIC patients. This is the first study directed to evaluate the choroid in PIC patients with EDI-OCT.  

 

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • imaging/image analysis: clinical