Abstract
Purpose :
To describe the retinal microvasculature of the eyes with nonarteritic retinal artery occlusion (RAO) based on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).
Methods :
Cross-sectional, prospective, observational study. Patients with artery occlusion – central, branch or cillioretinal – were prospectively recruited to be imaged on spectral-domain OCT-A (RTVue XR Avanti; Optovue, Inc, Fremont, California, USA), FA (Spectralis HRA Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and color fundus phtograph on the same day. Qualitative analysis of the morphology of the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and radial peripapillary capillaries was performed. Retinal vasculature images using optical coherence tomography angiography were correlated with fluorescein angiography images. All patients were referred to a clinical evaluation for the investigation of systemic diseases.
Results :
Ten patients with retinal artery occlusion were included in this study. OCT-A findings were similar to FA finding for the demonstration of retinal ischemia and neovascularization. Distinct differences in the distribution of zones of decreased vascular perfusion between the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus corresponding to areas of delayed dye perfusion on fluorescein angiography were demonstrated using OCT angiogram. However, OCT-A was not able to evaluate peripheral retina due to restrict scanning field.
Conclusions :
OCT-A imaging can accurately discern retinal capillary plexuses at different levels in the eyes with retinal artery occlusion and may be sensitive for more precisely characterizing the extent of macular ischemia and monitoring vascular flow changes during the course of the disease. However, because this exam is restricted to the posterior pole, AF still remains the gold standard exam for peripheral retina imaging.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.