Identification of macular neovascularization in central serous chorioretinopathy using swept-source OCT angiography

A Novel Grid Strategy for Correlating Focal Macular Anatomic Changes With Focal Changes in Choriocapillaris Perfusion

Purpose

To establish the repeatability of choriocapillaris flow deficit (CCFD) measurements within a macular grid and then demonstrate the use of this registered grid strategy to follow CCFD measurements over time.

Methods

Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography scans were acquired (nominal size of 6 × 6 mm). For each scan, masks of hyperreflective foci, calcified drusen, and persistent choroidal hypertransmission defects (hyperTDs) were generated. These masks were then used to exclude these prespecified regions when calculating the CCFD percentages (CCFD%). Scans were registered, and CCFD% measurements were performed within 3-mm and 5-mm fovea-centered circles and within a fovea-centered grid (one box: 74 × 74 pixels). The 95% minimal detectable changes (MDC95) for CCFD% were calculated for each of the regions. This longitudinal grid workflow was then used to study eyes before and after drusen resolved.

Results

Ninety eyes of 63 patients were identified: 30 normal eyes, 30 eyes with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD), and 30 eyes with hyperTDs. The MDC95 for the normal, iAMD, and hyperTD eyes within the 3-mm and 5-mm circles ranged from 0.85% to 1.96%. The MDC95 for an individual grid's box ranged from 3.35% to 4.67%, and for the total grid area, the MDC95 ranged from 0.91% to 1.40%. When tested longitudinally before and after the resolution of drusen using grid strategy, no significant differences in the CCFD% were observed.

Conclusions

A grid strategy was developed to investigate targeted longitudinal changes in CCFD% associated with changes in optical coherence tomography biomarkers, and this strategy was validated using eyes in which drusen resolved.

Zerumbone Inhibits the Viability, Motility, and Angiogenesis of Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HRCECs) by Inhibiting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

PURPOSE

To uncover the possible effects of zerumbone on the viability, motility, and angiogenesis of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells and to clarify the mechanism.

METHODS

5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were conducted to confirm the effects of zerumbone on the viability of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells. Wound healing, tube formation, and immunoblot assays were conducted to confirm the role of zerumbone in human retinal microvascular endothelial cell motility and angiogenesis, and regulation on vascular endothelial growth factor expression. ELISA was performed to confirm its effects on vascular endothelial growth factor secretion. Colivelin was used to activate the STAT3.

RESULTS

We revealed that zerumbone suppressed the viability of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells. Zerumbone restrained the motility and angiogenesis of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells via targeting STAT3 and regulating the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro. Zerumbone treatment suppressed the angiogenesis, whereas Colivelin treatment reversed the suppression of angiogenesis caused by zerumbone.

CONCLUSION

Zerumbone restrained the viability, motility and angiogenesis of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor expression.

Optical coherence tomography angiography in the diagnosis of ocular disease

Clinical imaging provided by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and its variant, OCT-angiography (OCT-A), has revolutionised eyecare practice. The imaging techniques allow for the identification and quantification of ocular structures, supporting the diagnosis and prognosis of eye disease. In this review, an overview of the usefulness of OCT-A imaging in the diagnosis and management of a range of ocular conditions is provided when used in isolation or in combination with other imaging modalities and measures of visual function (visual field results). OCT-A imaging has the capacity to identify and quantify ocular vasculature non-invasively, thereby assisting the clinician in the diagnosis or to determine the efficacy of intervention in ocular conditions impacting retinal vasculature. Thus, additional clinically useful information can be obtained in eye diseases involving conditions such as those impacting retinal vessel occlusion, in diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal dystrophy, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularisation and optic nerve disorders. Through a clinical case series, various ocular conditions are reviewed, and the impact of OCT-A imaging is discussed. Although OCT-A imaging has great promise and is already used in clinical management, there is a lack of set standards to characterise altered vascular features in disease and consequently for prognostication, primarily due to a lack of large-scale clinical trials and variability in OCT-A algorithms when generating quantitative parameters.