Abstract
Purpose :
Purpose: The effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on choroidal circulation have not been elucidated in detail. We performed a retrospective, observational clinical study to evaluate the quantitative time course of choroidal blood flow during anti-VEGF treatment for pachychoroid disease using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG).
Methods :
Methods: Seven eyes of seven consecutive patients (4 males, 3 females; average age 66.0 years.) with pachychoroid disease (4 pachychoroid neovasculopathy, 3 polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy) treated with anti-VEGF were followed for more than 12 months. During the follow up, pro re nata injections were administered when changes in foveal exudation were evident on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Both LSFG and OCT angiography images were used to detect the blood flow in the choroidal Haller layer vessels just under the choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which was quantitatively measured using LSFG every month during treatment. This study complied with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee of Toho University Sakura Medical Center.
Results :
Results: The blood flow in the choroidal Haller layer vessels reduced 1 month after anti-VEGF injection by an average of 16.6±25.0% in all eyes. Choroidal blood flow was also increased one month before recurrence of the exudative change on OCT by an average of 31.7±35.8% compared with values measured on the last visit.
Conclusions :
Conclusion: Choroidal blood flow decreases with anti-VEGF administration and reflects exudative changes. The measurement of choroidal blood flow under CNV might be used as a predictor for determining the effect of anti-VEGF.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.