Faculty Bibliography

Purpose: Drusenoid pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) are a defined path to atrophy in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We analyzed the relationships between retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and drusen volume changes during the PED lifecycle, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Twenty-one cases of drusenoid PED tracked using SD-OCT through periods of growth and collapse were evaluated. Volumetric calculations and piece-wise linear regression analysis were used to determine the breakpoint between growth and collapse. Spectral-domain OCT scans were independently evaluated for the appearance of intraretinal hyperreflective foci, acquired vitelliform lesions (AVLs), and disruptions to the RPE+basal lamina band. Timing of these events with respect to the breakpoint was statistically evaluated. Morphometric characteristics of drusenoid PEDs were correlated with rate of PED collapse and final visual acuity. Results: Mean age of subjects was 75.3 years and mean period of follow up was 4.1 years (median 4.5 years; range, 0.6-6.6 years). The lifecycle of drusenoid PEDs was asymmetric, in that the rate of collapse (0.199 mm3/month) is significantly faster (P < 0.001) than the rate of growth (0.022 mm3/month). Appearance of intraretinal hyperreflective foci and AVLs preceded the breakpoint (both P < 0.001). The timing of disruptions to the RPE+basal lamina band did not differ from the breakpoint (P = 0.510). Maximal height, volume, and diameter of drusenoid PEDs were inversely correlated with final visual acuity (all P < 0.001) and positively correlated with the rate of PED collapse (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Spectral-domain OCT signatures, plausibly attributable to anteriorly migrated RPE and disintegration of the RPE layer, precede or occur simultaneously with changes in volume of drusenoid PED during the lifecycle of this lesion.

PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity of the combination of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detecting type 1 neovascularization (NV) and to determine significant factors that preclude visualization of type 1 NV using OCTA. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 115 eyes from 100 patients with type 1 NV. A retrospective review of fluorescein (FA), OCT, and OCTA imaging was performed on a consecutive series of eyes with type 1 NV from five institutions. Unmasked graders utilized FA and structural OCT data to determine the diagnosis of type 1 NV. Masked graders evaluated FA data alone, en face OCTA data alone and combined en face OCTA and structural OCT data to determine the presence of type 1 NV. Sensitivity analyses were performed using combined FA and OCT data as the reference standard. RESULTS: A total of 105 eyes were diagnosed with type 1 NV using the reference. Of these, 90 (85.7%) could be detected using en face OCTA and structural OCT. The sensitivities of FA data alone and en face OCTA data alone for visualizing type 1 NV were the same (66.7%). Significant factors that precluded visualization of NV using en face OCTA included the height of pigment epithelial detachment, low signal strength, and treatment-naive disease (P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: En face OCTA and structural OCT showed better detection of type 1 NV than either FA alone or en face OCTA alone. Combining en face OCTA and structural OCT information may therefore be a useful way to noninvasively diagnose and monitor the treatment of type 1 NV.

PURPOSE: To describe the natural course, visual outcomes and anatomic changes and provide histological correlates in eyes with intraretinal hyperreflective foci associated with acquired vitelliform lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study and imaging-histology correlation in a single donor eye. METHODS: Participants: Patients with intraretinal hyperreflective foci and acquired vitelliform lesions from two tertiary referral centers were evaluated from January 2002-January 2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The chronology of clinical and imaging features of retinal anatomic changes and the pattern of intraretinal hyperreflective foci migration were documented using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). One donor eye with intraretinal hyperreflective foci was identified in a pathology archive by ex vivo OCT and was studied with high-resolution light and electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: Intraretinal hyperreflective foci were associated with acquired vitelliform lesions in 25 of 254 eyes (9.8%) with a strong female preponderance (86% of patients). Focal disruptions to the ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane overlying the acquired vitelliform lesions were observed prior to the occurrence of intraretinal hyperreflective foci in 75% of cases. Histological evaluation showed that intraretinal hyperreflective foci represent cells of retinal pigment epithelium origin that are similar to those found in the vitelliform lesions themselves and contain lipofuscin granules, melanolipofuscin granules and melanosomes. The occurrence of intraretinal hyperreflective foci was not a significant determinant of final visual acuity (p=0.34), but development of outer retinal atrophy was significant (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Intraretinal hyperreflective foci associated with acquired vitelliform lesions is of retinal pigment epithelium origin, and the natural course and functional changes are described.

PURPOSE: To report the association of pure type 2 neovascularization (NV) in age-related macular degeneration occurring almost exclusively in patients with reticular pseudodrusen. METHODS: An observational retrospective cohort study of all eyes receiving antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy for newly diagnosed neovascular age-related macular degeneration by a single practitioner over a 6-year period. Only patients with treatment-naive, pure type 2 NV who also had either pre-neovascular imaging of the study eye or imaging of a nonneovascular fellow eye available to determine baseline characteristics including drusen type and choroidal thickness were incuded. RESULTS: Of 694 patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, only 8 met the inclusion criteria with pure type 2 NV. Of these, 7 (88%) had exclusively reticular pseudodrusen (5 in the nonneovascular fellow eye, 2 in the study eye before developing NV). Six (75%) patients in the affected neovascular eye and 6 (75%) in the fellow nonneovascular eye had choroidal thickness <120 mum. Mean follow-up was 46 months (range, 3.0-63.3). Best-corrected vision improved from 20/89 (range, 20/30-20/796) at baseline to 20/60 (range, 20/20-20/399) at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Pure type 2 NV is rare in age-related macular degeneration, occurring almost exclusively in patients with reticular pseudodrusen and thin choroids.

PURPOSE: To assess the treatment response to mineralocorticoid antagonists in a pilot study of patients diagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy using multimodal imaging. METHODS: This retrospective observational case series included 23 eyes of 14 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy treated by a single physician (L.A.Y.) with either spironolactone, eplerenone, or both consecutively over a 12-month period. Choroidal thickness, central macular thickness, and best-corrected visual acuity were measured and compared with baseline values. Twelve eyes of 11 patients demonstrated subretinal fluid before or during the initiated treatment course. Subretinal fluid was measured and compared with baseline values in this subgroup. RESULTS: In all eyes (n = 23), best-corrected visual acuity improved at 12 months of treatment; however, central macular thickness and choroidal thickness showed no improvement. In the subgroup with subretinal fluid (n = 12), subretinal fluid was significantly decreased at 6 months and 12 months of treatment; however, central macular thickness, choroidal thickness, and best-corrected visual acuity showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: Mineralocorticoid antagonists may improve best-corrected visual acuity and decrease subretinal fluid in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy, but do not affect the choroidal or macular thickness. This pilot study demonstrates that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists may be effective in treating central serous chorioretinopathy but warrants consideration for future research within a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To report the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) findings in a case of acute toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis. METHODS: A 35-year-old male presented with acute blurry vision and floaters in his left eye. Ophthalmic examination, color photographs, spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT), enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT), SS-OCT and wide-field fluorescein angiography images were obtained to diagnose and follow the subsequent changes of toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis over a 2-month period. RESULTS: Initial imaging with different modalities of SD- and EDI-OCT including radial vitreous scans and horizontal high-speed B-scan raster lines demonstrated thickening of the posterior hyaloid and acute vitreous cells emanating from the retinal blood vessels, thickening and disorganization of the retinal layers within the chorioretinal lesion, and increased sub-lesional choroidal thickness, respectively. SS-OCT demonstrated all of these same findings in a single 12-mm B-scan. Topical steroids were initiated and imaging over the next 2 months showed separation of the posterior hyaloid, decrease in vitreous cell, and atrophy of the chorioretinal lesion. CONCLUSION: We report the first SS-OCT images of an acute case of toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis. SS-OCT can visualize the choroidal, retinal, and vitreous changes in a single scan, compared with the different imaging algorithms required with SD-OCT.