Abstract
Purpose :
To examine the morphological and functional characteristics of preclinical manifestation of choroidal neovascularization(CNV) in fellow-eyes of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients by means of multimodal imaging and microperimetry.
Methods :
A total of 32 fellow-eyes without signs of exudation were screened for the presence of subclinical CNV. All patients were prospectively followed for 6 months using color fundus imaging (CFI), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and microperimetry. In fellow-eyes with a subclinical CNV, microperimetry values of the neovascular area were compared with measurements in the center, mid-periphery and periphery of the macula in fellow-eyes without subclinical CNV at baseline and over follow-up.
Results :
We detected six fellow-eyes (19%) at baseline with a subclinical CNV using OCTA. None of the patients presented with metamorphopsia or vision decline and there were no conclusive signs of exudative AMD on CFI and SD-OCT. Mean retinal sensitivity of the neovascular area (21.7 dB) was lower when compared with the mean retinal sensitivity in the center (26.1 dB), mid-periphery (25.6 dB) and periphery (24.6 dB) of the macula in fellow-eyes without subclinical CNV (P<0.001). After 6 months, mean retinal sensitivity of the neovascular area was lower when compared with the baseline measurements (difference of -3.0 dB, P<0.001). In fellow-eyes without subclinical CNV, mean retinal sensitivity did not change between baseline and follow-up.
Conclusions :
Subclinical CNV may be present in fellow-eyes of patients with unilateral exudative AMD and can be detected with OCTA. Despite patients have no subjective visual disturbances, microperimetry can show a subtle decrease in retinal sensitivity over time.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.