Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To describe patterns of hypoautofluorescence in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration occurring after subretinal hemorrhage. METHODS:This was a retrospective descriptive analysis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration eyes presenting with subretinal hemorrhage over the last 5 years that underwent serial multimodal imaging. A review of color fundus photographs, fundus autofluorescence, near-infrared reflectance, and optical coherence tomography was performed at baseline and all available follow-up visits to document the course and evolution of subretinal hemorrhage in these eyes. RESULTS:Eleven eyes of 10 patients (9 female, 1 male; mean age: 84.1 years, range: 72-99 years) with a mean follow-up of 19.8 months (range: 3-68 months) were included. Color fundus photographs showed subretinal hemorrhage that resolved over a mean of 5.5 months. During and after hemorrhage resolution, all eyes showed hypoautofluorescence, which appeared distinct from that due to retinal pigment epithelium loss. Discrete multifocal punctate hyperpigmented lesions were observed in 90% of eyes and were markedly hypoautofluorescent, producing a speckled pattern on fundus autofluorescence. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Areas of hypoautofluorescence in the absence of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy, often with a speckled pattern, delineate areas of prior subretinal hemorrhage long after its resolution in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Potential mechanisms for the development of this pattern are proposed.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the vascular structure within combined hamartoma of retina and retinal pigment epithelium (CHRRPE) lesions using OCT angiography (OCTA). DESIGN/METHODS:Multicenter, retrospective, observational analysis, PARTICIPANTS: Twenty eyes of patients diagnosed with CHRRPE. METHODS:Retrospective analysis of color fundus photographs, OCT, and OCTA of 20 eyes with CHRRPE. Morphologic characteristics of CHRRPE and the OCT features were correlated with the density of the filigree vascular pattern and with the published histopathologic findings of CHRRPE lesions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE/METHODS:Density of flow signals, that is, the filigree vascular pattern seen on OCTA in the deep capillary plexus, graded as high (>20), intermediate (10-20), or low (<10). RESULTS:Of 20 lesions, 11 were peripapillary, 8 were macular, and 1 was equatorial in location. A high density of filigree vascular pattern was observed in most peripapillary CHRRPE lesions, which also showed full-thickness retinal involvement (8/10). A low density of filigree pattern was seen in macular lesions, which showed partial-thickness retinal involvement and preretinal fibrosis (5/6). CONCLUSIONS:A filigree vascular pattern on OCTA is seen in CHRRPE lesions. High density of this pattern is noted in CHRRPE lesions with a peripapillary location, full-thickness retinal disorganization, and minimal preretinal fibrosis. These findings correlate well with published histopathologic findings of CHRRPE lesions both in terms of topographic and morphologic features. OCT angiography provides a promising method for further study of these lesions.

Photopigment bleaching occurs with saturation of photoreceptor pigment by short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence imaging. This phenomenon is seen as characteristic hyperautofluorescence with subsequent imaging acquisition. Herein, a patient with multiple sclerosis was found to exhibit increased choroidal hyperfluorescence during fluorescein angiography (FA) that corresponded with a circumscribed area of intense blue light exposure during initial scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. To the authors' knowledge, this case is the first description of photobleaching phenomenon during FA and should be recognized as nonpathologic by the clinician. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:590-592.].

Purpose/UNASSIGNED:To analyze the evolution of type 1 neovascularization associated with vascularized serous pigment epithelial detachment (vsPED) using three-dimensional, volumetric, en face optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods/UNASSIGNED:This was a retrospective case series from four tertiary medical centers. OCTA images were analyzed at baseline and at the 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-up visit when available. Visual acuity, number of injections, PED maximal height and PED area and volume, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) flow area and progression were determined at each visit. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of CNV progression (including CNV/PED flow area) and final PED morphology was performed to determine anatomic outcomes. Results/UNASSIGNED:Twenty-four eyes in 22 patients were studied. Median follow-up was 20 months. Across all eyes, maximum PED height decreased from 395.5 to 369.5 μm while CNV/PED flow ratio increased from 27.3% to 40.2%. Median visual acuity was unchanged at 20/40. Final PED outcomes included filled fibrovascular versus persistent vsPED. Filled vsPEDs decreased in PED height and volume and displayed a multilayered morphology in contrast to persistent vsPEDs. Fibrovascular PEDs received on average seven less injections as compared to persistent vsPEDs. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:Three-dimensional, volumetric, en face OCTA analysis of vsPED progression illustrated two anatomic outcomes: filled, typically multilayered fibrovascular PED versus persistent vsPED. The filled multilayered PED displayed a reduction in PED height and volume, greater CNV/PED flow ratio, and fewer anti-VEGF injections versus the persistent vsPED and may represent a more stable anatomic outcome while the persistent vsPED may indicate a more unstable morphology.

Importance/UNASSIGNED:Incidence of conversion to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in untreated fellow eyes of patients who are treated for nAMD in 1 eye with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents provides important prognostic information to clinically manage patients. Objective/UNASSIGNED:To investigate the association of treatment assignment (intravitreal aflibercept vs ranibizumab) and baseline characteristics with fellow eye conversion to nAMD in the VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) Trap-Eye: Investigation of Efficacy and Safety in Wet AMD (VIEW) studies. Design, Setting, and Participants/UNASSIGNED:This post hoc analysis of the VIEW 1 and VIEW 2 studies (randomized, double-masked, active-controlled, multicenter, 96-week, phase 3 trials comparing the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in 2457 patients with treatment-naive eyes with nAMD) analyzed a subgroup of participants treated for nAMD in 1 eye who had untreated fellow eyes without neovascularization at baseline. All participants in the VIEW studies were included in 1 of 4 groups: ranibizumab, 0.5 mg, every 4 weeks; aflibercept, 2 mg, every 4 weeks; aflibercept, 0.5 mg, every 4 weeks; or aflibercept, 2 mg, every 8 weeks after 3 injections at 4-week intervals. Data collection in the VIEW studies occurred from July 2007 to August 2011; the data analysis presented in this report took place from April 2016 to November 2018. Interventions/UNASSIGNED:Patients received no treatment in the fellow eyes unless after conversion to nAMD, when any treatment approved by heath authorities was given per the investigators' discretion. Main Outcomes and Measures/UNASSIGNED:Incidence of conversion to nAMD in patients with untreated fellow eyes that had not had clinical signs of neovascularization at baseline. Results/UNASSIGNED:A total of 1561 participants were included in this analysis. At 96 weeks, 375 patients (24.0%) experienced cases of conversion to neovascular disease in the fellow eye, including 107 of the 399 individuals who received ranibizumab, 0.5 mg, every 4 weeks; 93 of the 387 individuals who received aflibercept, 2 mg, every 4 weeks; 84 of the 387 individuals who received aflibercept, 0.5 mg, every 4 weeks; and 91 of the 388 individuals who received aflibercept, 2 mg, every 8 weeks after 3 doses at 4-week intervals. The rates were 18.1, 16.2, 14.7, and 16.0 per 100 patient-years at risk at week 96, respectively. On multivariate analysis, fellow eye conversion was associated with increasing patient age (per 10 years) at baseline (hazard ratio [HR], 1.20 [95% CI, 1.05-1.36]), female sex (HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.06-1.63]), intraretinal fluid in the study eye at baseline (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.02-1.61]), and increasing choroidal neovascularization lesion size (per 10 mm2) in the study eye at baseline (HR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.06-1.57]). Rates of fellow eye conversion were similar with either of the treatments. Conclusions and Relevance/UNASSIGNED:In this secondary analysis of randomized clinical trial data, patients with active nAMD in 1 eye appeared to have a high risk for fellow eye conversion. Such patients should be monitored closely.

BACKGROUND/AIMS/OBJECTIVE:To study the multimodal imaging findings of a large series of eyes with cilioretinal artery obstruction (CILRAO) and describe the systemic associations. METHODS:Multicentre, retrospective chart review from 12 different retina clinics worldwide of eyes with CILRAO, defined as acute retinal whitening in the distribution of the cilioretinal artery, were identified. The clinical, systemic information and multimodal retinal imaging findings were collected and analysed. RESULTS:A total of 53 eyes of 53 patients with CILRAO were included in the study. In 100% of eyes, fundus photography illustrated deep retinal whitening corresponding to the course of the cilioretinal artery. Twenty-eight patients (52.8%) presented with isolated CILRAO (baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 20/50, final BCVA 20/25) associated with nocturnal hypotension, 23 patients (43.4%) with CILRAO secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (baseline BCVA 20/40, final BCVA 20/20) and two patients with CILRAO due to biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) (baseline BCVA 20/175, final BCVA 20/75). With spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), a hyper-reflective band involving the inner nuclear layer (ie, paracentral acute middle maculopathy or PAMM) was noted in 51 eyes (28/28 eyes with isolated CILRAO and 23/23 eyes with CILRAO+CRVO) corresponding to the retinal whitening. In the two eyes with CILRAO+GCA, SD-OCT illustrated hyper-reflective ischaemia of both the middle and inner retina. CONCLUSIONS:Isolated CILRAO and CILRAO secondary to CRVO are the result of hypoperfusion or insufficiency, rather than occlusion, of the cilioretinal artery and are associated with PAMM or selective infarction of the the inner nuclear layer. With GCA, there is complete occlusion of the cilioretinal artery producing ischaemia involving both the middle and inner retina associated with worse visual outcomes.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:This study analyzes a subset of patients with peripapillary polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) to determine whether quantifiable pachychoroid features colocalize with disease foci. METHODS:Patients with PCV diagnosed by indocyanine green angiography were identified for the analysis of medical records and multimodal imaging and classified as having peripapillary or macular PCV. The ratio of Haller layer thickness to total choroidal thickness was calculated at the fovea and at the site of dilated Haller vessels that showed spatial correlation with the origin of neovascularization. Choroidal thickness was measured horizontally across the fovea and circumferentially around the temporal side of the disk to study its relationship to neovascularization. RESULTS:Three hundred and fourteen eyes of 299 patients with PCV were identified, of which 17 eyes (5%) had peripapillary disease. Although eyes with peripapillary PCV exhibited thinner subfoveal choroids than those with macular PCV, at the extrafoveal disease foci, choroidal thickness, Haller's layer thickness, and its ratio to total choroidal thickness were relatively high. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Quantitative indices of choroidal structure previously identified in macular PCV performed consistently when applied to a peripapillary PCV cohort, thus supporting the hypothesis that inner choroidal thinning and Haller vessel enlargement are mechanistically relevant to these related entities.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a common cause of central vision loss, primarily affecting men 20-60 years of age. To date, no consensus has been reached regarding the classification of CSC, and a wide variety of interventions have been proposed, reflecting the controversy associated with treating this disease. The recent publication of appropriately powered randomised controlled trials such as the PLACE trial, as well as large retrospective, non-randomised treatment studies regarding the treatment of CSC suggest the feasibility of a more evidence-based approach when considering treatment options. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current rationale and evidence with respect to the variety of interventions available for treating CSC, including pharmacology, laser treatment, and photodynamic therapy. In addition, we describe the complexity of CSC, the challenges associated with treating CSC, and currently ongoing studies. Many treatment strategies such as photodynamic therapy using verteporfin, oral mineralocorticoid antagonists, and micropulse laser treatment have been reported as being effective. Currently, however, the available evidence suggests that half-dose (or half-fluence) photodynamic therapy should be the treatment of choice in chronic CSC, whereas observation may be the preferred approach in acute CSC. Nevertheless, exceptions can be considered based upon patient-specific characteristics.