Abstract
Purpose :
Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) enables unprecedented assessment of the vitreo-retinal interface (VRI), but SD-OCT based data on VRI abnormalities from epidemiological studies is scarce. Here, we determined frequencies of vitreo-macular adhesion/traction (VMA/VMT), partial/full thickness macular holes (PTMH/FTMH), and epiretinal membranes (ERM) via SD-OCT in older individuals from a population-based study and investigated associations with presence of metamorphopsia as an example of visual function impairment in this cross-sectional data.
Methods :
Macular cubes with 49 Raster lines, 20x20°, were acquired via the Spectralis SD-OCT for at least one eye in 508 AugUR participants aged 70-94 years. Presence of VRI abnormalities was manually assessed per eye. Metamorphopsia were assessed per eye via standard Amsler grid applying the participant`s own refractive correction if applicable. Association of ERM on metamorphopsia was tested via logistic regression in one random eye per person, adjusting for age, sex, early and late age-related macular degeneration (assessed on color fundus images).
Results :
SD-OCT scans were gradable for VRI abnormalities in 500 right and 498 left eyes from 508 participants (mean age 77.7 ± 5.3 years, 51.2% women). A total of 222 right eyes (44.4%) and 231 left eyes (46.4%) revealed no VRI abnormalities. VMT or macular holes were found only in 5 right and 6 left eyes (1% each, Table 1). Approx. 50% of eyes showed features of ERM, but only a small number of eyes demonstrated major changes of foveal structure due to ERM (i.e. loss of foveal depression: 19 right and 19 left eyes [3.8% each], Table 1).
Association in random eye between ERM and metamorphopsia was not statistically significant when foveal depression was preserved (ERM present outside fovea: P=0.96; ERM present inside fovea: P=0.07). However, loss of foveal depression was significantly associated with metamorphopsia (P=2.24*10-3; OR=4.9 [95%CI=1.8-13.7]).
Conclusions :
We here provide the first epidemiological data on VRI abnormalities in a European population aged 70+ applying SD-OCT. Features of ERM were present in 50% of eyes; visual function impairment due to ERM in the form of metamorphopsia was significantly associated with loss of the foveal structure.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.