Aims To evaluate the long-term progression of quiescent type 1 choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or with pachychoroid disease. Methods All cases of quiescent type 1 CNV with a minimum follow-up of 12 months seen at the Department of Ophthalmology of University Paris Est, Creteil and at the Centre Ophtalmologique de l’Odeon, Paris, between June 2009 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) of eyes not showing CNV activation during 24 months was evaluated for quantitative analyses of CNV status biomarkers (fractal dimension, lacunarity, vessel density, aspect ratio, CNV area). Results A total of 67 eyes (65 patients, 43 females, mean age 76.63±9.7 years) with quiescent CNV and a mean follow-up of 49.56±27.3 (12–112) months were included. Of 28 eyes showing activation of quiescent CNV, 12 eyes with pachychoroid-associated CNV showed reduced visual loss (−3.28 ETDRS letters, p=0.7 vs −13.03 ETDRS letters, p=0.02), greater choroidal thinning (−59.5 µm, p=0.03 vs – 16.36 µm, p=0.3) and needed less antivascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections (IVI) (0.09 vs 0.21, p=0.01) than 16 eyes with AMD-associated CNV. CNV area was the only OCT-A biomarker to significantly change during 24 months in inactive quiescent CNV (+29.5%, p=0.01, in pachychoroid group and +27.1%, p=0.03, in the AMD group). Conclusion In the long-term follow-up, inactive quiescent CNV showed an increase of CNV area without significant changes of the other OCT-A biomarkers. Quiescent type 1 CNV undergoing activation showed greater response to IVI when associated to pachychoroid.
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy. Treatment with intravitreal injections is effective in most cases but is associated with a high therapeutic burden for patients. This implies the need for long-term treatments, such as the fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant. A review of basic science, pharmacology, and clinical data was conducted to provide a state-of-the-art view of the FAc implant in 2024. Although generally well tolerated, the FAc implant has been associated with ocular hypertension and cataract, and caution should be advised to the patients in this regard. By synthesizing information across these domains, a comprehensive evaluation can be attained, facilitating informed decision-making regarding the use of the FAc implant in the management of DME. The main objective of this review is to provide clinicians with guidelines on how to introduce and use the FAc implant in a patient with DME.
We performed a systematic review and analyzed the current available data on branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) with simultaneous central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO), a rarely described occurrence. MEDLINE/PubMed and ISI Web of Sciences searches were performed according to MOOSE guidelines. Studies were considered eligible if they (1) described patients with simultaneous BRAO + CRVO and (2) had been published in peer-reviewed journals. We initially identified 239 records from databases. Ultimately, only 19 reports met the selection criteria. Twenty-nine patients (15 men, 14 women; mean age 43 ± 15 years) were analyzed. Seventeen (59%) patients presented vascular risk factors. Mean visual acuity at onset and final visual outcome were 20/83 and 20/45, respectively, an insignificant improvement. Vision improved in 48% of cases. A marked heterogeneity in treatment approach was found. Eight (28%) patients received no therapy, whereas for 21 (72%) a large variety of topical and/or systemic drugs was given. In the treated group, mean visual acuity at onset and final visual outcome were 20/90 and 20/44, respectively, a not statistically significant improvement. Results suggest that combined BRAO + CRVO occurs at a younger age than isolated BRAO or CRVO. At present, there is insufficient evidence to support any specific management to improve vision in simultaneous BRAO + CRVO.
5 September 2020 in British Journal of Ophthalmology
Aim To describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) features of polypoidal choroidal neovascularisation (PCNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Methods A retrospective consecutive series of 51 patients with a diagnosis of PCNV, based on clinical and multimodal imaging, was analysed. All patients with PCNV underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCTA. Two blinded retinal specialists carefully reviewed OCTA slabs in order to assess the morphological patterns of PCNV lesions. Furthermore, fractal analysis of PCNV en face images on OCTA, including vascular perfusion density (VPD), fractal dimension (FD) and lacunarity (LAC), was performed. Results Fifty-one PCNV eyes were included in the study. In all, the branching vascular network appeared hyper-reflective. Polyps showed two different patterns: in 34/51 (67%) eyes, they corresponded to hypo-reflective structures, whereas in the remaining 17 (33%) eyes, they appeared as hyper-reflective lesions. In all PCNV eyes, mean VPD, FD and LAC were 0.76±0.17%, 1.46±0.12 and 2.4±0.87, respectively. No significant difference was found between PCNVs showing a different OCTA pattern, in terms of quantitative OCTA parameters. Conclusion Fractal analysis provides quantitative parameters demonstrating that PCNVs with different OCTA patterns share the same neovascular architecture and branching complexity. These new findings improve our ability to interpret OCTA slabs, opening new areas of discussion about this type of neovascular lesion.
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) can be complicated by different types of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) features of CSCR-related CNVs. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study including 102 eyes of 102 Caucasian patients with acute or complex CSCR. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination. Quantitative OCT-A parameters, including vascular perfusion density (VPD), fractal dimension (FD), and lacunarity (LAC), were measured in CNV eyes. Results: Forty eyes (39.2%) had acute CSCR, whereas the remaining sixty-two (60.8%) had complex CSCR. CNV was observed in 37 (36.27%) eyes, all of which had the complex form. CNVs were classified as type 1 CNV in 11/37 (29.73%) cases and as polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in the remaining 26/37 (70.27%). Overall, the mean VPD, FD, and LAC of CSCR-related CNVs were 0.52 ± 0.20%, 1.44 ± 0.12, and 2.40 ± 1.1, respectively. No significant difference between type 1 CNV and PCV was found. Conclusion: Complex CSCR is often complicated by type 1 CNV and PCV with similar neovascular architecture and branching complexity, a finding supporting the idea that they might be different stages of the same neovascular process. Future OCT-A fractal analysis-based studies that also include other relevant parameters, such as demographics, presentation, morphology on multimodal imaging, and response to treatment, are necessary before drawing any definitive conclusions.