Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To describe characteristics of uveitis induced macular edema using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods:Retrospective case series. Results:We analyzed OCT findings of seven eyes in five patients with macular edema diagnosed on biomicroscopic examination and fluorescein angiogram. Fast macula and 6mm high resolution horizontal and vertical scans were performed with an OCT 3000 scanner (Zeiss). OCT findings of the macula revealed cystoid fluid in the outer retinal layer, sub–retinal fluid, and outer retinal thickening. One eye had cystoid macular edema only; 2 eyes had sub–retinal fluid; 2 eyes had both cystoid macular edema and sub–retinal fluid; and 4 eyes demonstrated outer retinal thickening on OCT without obvious cystoid macular edema or sub–retinal fluid. Conclusions:Patients with uveitis–induced macular edema on fluorescein angiography may actually have distinct findings on OCT, including cystoid macular edema, sub–retinal fluid, and outer retinal thickening. In any single patient these findings may be seen either alone or in combination. OCT has the potential to more specifically classify macular edema caused by uveitis. A larger study is needed to explore the clinical course and visual prognosis of patients with accumulation of fluid at different levels of the neurosensory retina as determined by OCT. OCT will continue to evolve as a better means of evaluating these patients than currently used fluorescein angiography.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • inflammation • macula/fovea