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Abstract Background Persistent placoid maculopathy (PPM) is a rare idiopathic chorioretinopathy characterized by choriocapillaris (CC) hypoperfusion. In a case of PPM, we quantified CC flow deficits (FDs) over time and observed an increase in CC perfusion as the visual acuity and outer photoreceptor anatomy improved. Case presentation A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with PPM in both eyes based on the patient’s clinical presentation and imaging. He presented with sudden-onset central scotomas in both eyes for about two months. On referral, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye. Plaque-like yellowish macular lesions were observed bilaterally and autofluorescence imaging showed bilateral hyperautofluorescent lesions. Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed early-phase hyper-fluorescent staining that intensified in the late phases, while indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) displayed persistent hypofluorescence in both eyes. Foveal centered swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) B-scans showed bilateral focal deposits on the level of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and disruption of outer photoreceptor bands. The CC FDs were quantified on SS-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) images using a previously published algorithm that was validated. The CC FD% was 12.52% in the right eye and 14.64% in the left eye within a 5 mm circle centered on the fovea. After 5 months of steroid treatment, BCVA remained 20/20 in the right eye and improved to 20/25 in the left eye. On OCT imaging, the outer photoreceptor bands fully recovered in both eyes, while some focal deposits remained along the RPE in the left eye. The CC perfusion in both eyes improved, with CC FD% decreasing from 12.52% to 9.16% in the right eye and from 14.64% to 9.34% in the left eye. Conclusions Significant impairment of macular CC perfusion was detected after the onset of PPM. Improvement in central macular CC perfusion corresponded with improvements in BCVA and outer retinal anatomy. Our findings suggest that imaging and quantification of CC FDs could serve as a valuable imaging strategy for diagnosing PPM and for following disease progression.

Background: Persistent placoid maculopathy (PPM) is a rare idiopathic chorioretinopathy characterized by choriocapillaris (CC) hypoperfusion. In a case of PPM, we quantified CC flow deficits (FDs) over time and observed an increase in CC perfusion as the visual acuity and outer photoreceptor anatomy improved. Case presentation: A 58-year-old man was diagnosed with PPM in both eyes based on the patient's clinical presentation and imaging. He presented with sudden-onset central scotomas in both eyes for about two months. On referral, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye. Plaque-like yellowish macular lesions were observed bilaterally and autofluorescence imaging showed bilateral hyperautofluorescent lesions. Fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed early-phase hyper-fluorescent staining that intensified in the late phases, while indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) displayed persistent hypofluorescence in both eyes. Foveal centered swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) B-scans showed bilateral focal deposits on the level of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and disruption of outer photoreceptor bands. The CC FDs were quantified on SS-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) images using a previously published algorithm that was validated. The CC FD% was 12.52% in the right eye and 14.64% in the left eye within a 5 mm circle centered on the fovea. After 5 months of steroid treatment, BCVA remained 20/20 in the right eye and improved to 20/25 in the left eye. On OCT imaging, the outer photoreceptor bands fully recovered in both eyes, while some focal deposits remained along the RPE in the left eye. The CC perfusion in both eyes improved, with CC FD% decreasing from 12.52% to 9.16% in the right eye and from 14.64% to 9.34% in the left eye. Conclusions: Significant impairment of macular CC perfusion was detected after the onset of PPM. Improvement in central macular CC perfusion corresponded with improvements in BCVA and outer retinal anatomy. Our findings suggest that imaging and quantification of CC FDs could serve as a valuable imaging strategy for diagnosing PPM and for following disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloe Y Li,1,* Itika Garg,1,2,* Deepthi Bannai,3 Megan Kasetty,1 Raviv Katz,1,2 Iniya Adhan,3 Konstantinos AA Douglas,1 Jay C Wang,1 Leo A Kim,2 Matcheri Keshavan,3 Paulo Lizano,3,* John B Miller1,2,* 1Harvard Retinal Imaging Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; 2Retina Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; 3Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: John B Miller, Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 243 Charles St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA, Tel +1 617-573-3529, Email john_miller@meei.harvard.edu Paulo Lizano, Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 75 Fenwood Road, Room 612, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, Tel +1 617-754-1227, Email plizano@bidmc.harvard.eduPurpose: While structural changes within the retina of psychosis patients have been established, no detailed studies of choroidal microvasculature in these patients have been performed. Given evidence of microvascular disruption in psychosis patients, this study sought to determine whether there exists evidence of microvascular disruption in the choroids in these patients.Methods: Fifty-six subjects (20 controls and 36 psychosis patients) were recruited from April 2018 to February 2020. Five were excluded due to imaging artifact or missing demographic information. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) images were obtained. Choroid vascular enface images (12 mm × 9mm) were exported every 2.6 μm from Bruch’s membrane to the choroid–scleral interface from Topcon to ImageJ. The images were binarized using Otsu’s method, signal from the optic disk and retinal vasculature was removed, and average choroid vascular density (CVD) was calculated as the average of percent area occupied by choroidal vasculature across images in the stack. Choroid vascular volume (CVV) was calculated as the CVD multiplied by maximum CT and image area. During image analysis, study staff were blinded to the phenotype of the study subjects.Results: Compared with same-sex controls, male psychiatric patients had significantly lower CVD. Compared with same-sex controls, female psychiatric patients had significantly lower maximum CT with correspondingly decreased CVV, after adjusting for age. When all psychiatric patients were compared with all healthy controls, no significant differences in CT, CVD, or CVV were noted.Conclusion: These results suggest that the pathogenesis of psychotic illness affects choroidal microvasculature in a sex-specific manner.Keywords: choroid vascular density, swept source optical coherence tomography angiography, psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Abstract Backgro To assess the microvascular changes in the macular region and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in participants with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS OCTA). Methods This cross-sectional study included a total of 23 WMH participants (45 eyes) and 20 age-matched healthy participants (40 eyes). SS OCTA (VG200; SVision Imaging, Ltd., Luoyang, China) was used to assess the retinal vessel density (VD) and the FAZ area. VD was measured in the superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) within a 6 × 6-mm scan centred on the macula using a 5-mm Macula circle. The FAZ area was automatically measured on the inner retina layer within a 3 × 3-mm scan in the macular region. Results There was no significant difference in VD in the SVP between the two groups. However, VD in both the ICP and DCP was significantly decreased in WMH participants (P = 0.028, P = 0.016). The FAZ area was significantly enlarged in WMH participants (P = 0.030). The signal quality was significantly lower in WMH participants (P

PurposeTo compare cone spacing and choriocapillaris (CC) perfusion adjacent to geographic atrophy (GA) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-similar normal eyes.MethodsSubjects were imaged using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. The GA border was identified using FAF images; CC flow void was analyzed in 1° regions extending from the GA border. A grader masked to CC perfusion selected regions of interest (ROIs) with unambiguous cone mosaics in AOSLO images. At each ROI, cone spacing and CC flow void were converted to Z-scores (standard deviations from the mean of 12 normal eyes aged 50 to 81 years for cone spacing, and 60 normal eyes age 51 to 88 years for CC flow void).ResultsExcluding regions of GA and drusen, CC flow void in eight eyes of six patients with AMD was significantly greater than in four age-similar normal eyes (exact permutation test, P = 0.024). CC flow void was negatively correlated with distance from the GA margin (r = -0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.53 to -0.12). Increased cone spacing was significantly correlated with CC flow void (r = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.59). Cone spacing was increased in 39% of ROIs, while CC flow void was increased in 96% of ROIs.ConclusionsIn eyes with GA due to AMD, CC hypoperfusion was significantly correlated with, and more extensive than, cone photoreceptor loss. The results suggest that reduced CC perfusion contributes to the development of GA.

Backgro: To assess the microvascular changes in the macular region and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area in participants with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS OCTA).Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 23 WMH participants (45 eyes) and 20 age-matched healthy participants (40 eyes). SS OCTA (VG200; SVision Imaging, Ltd., Luoyang, China) was used to assess the retinal vessel density (VD) and the FAZ area. VD was measured in the superficial vascular plexus (SVP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) within a 6 × 6-mm scan centred on the macula using a 5-mm Macula circle. The FAZ area was automatically measured on the inner retina layer within a 3 × 3-mm scan in the macular region.Results: There was no significant difference in VD in the SVP between the two groups. However, VD in both the ICP and DCP was significantly decreased in WMH participants (P = 0.028, P = 0.016). The FAZ area was significantly enlarged in WMH participants (P = 0.030). The signal quality was significantly lower in WMH participants (P < 0.001).Conclusions: This study suggested that WMH participants have retinal microvascular and foveal avascular zone area changes compared with healthy controls. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to identify the value of our findings in the early evaluation of WMHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the distinct vascular pattern of a treatment-naïve retinal hemangioblastoma imaged on swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA). Observations: A 33-year-old female with a history of Von Hippel-Lindau disease presented for follow-up of bilateral retinal hemangioblastomas. Ultra-widefield fundus photography of the left eye revealed a small, juxtapapillary lesion. SS-OCTA imaging centered at the lesion identified two distinct vascular foci. Centrally, the lesion was composed of a dense capillary meshwork. Peripherally, a pattern of branching vessels with terminal budding was identified. The patient was diagnosed with a new juxtapapillary retinal hemangioblastoma. Conclusions and Importance: SS-OCTA can visualize the in-vivo vascular structure of retinal hemangioblastomas. Early lesion identification can help in prompt diagnosis and monitoring. Further investigation is needed to assert if the branching and budding pattern described in this case report is broadly characteristic of this tumor entity.

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive technique that is useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with posterior uveitis. Here we report the use of swept source OCTA (SS-OCTA) in a patient with tuberculosis (TB) associated serpiginous like choroiditis (TB-SLC) that made a full visual recovery following treatment with ATT, local and systemic corticosteroids, and systemic immune modulation. By comparing en face images of choriocapillaris (CC) blood flow before and after treatment, we conclude that the patient's visual recovery was associated with resolution of extensive CC flow deficits. This case highlights the utility of SS-OCTA in the multimodal evaluation of patients with choroidal inflammation, and the potential for good visual recovery in patients treated for TB-SLC.

Purpose: Multifocal retinal arterial occlusions and choroidal infarctions due to embolic triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administered during a septoplasty were imaged using swept source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) to demonstrate the utility of this imaging modality for the diagnosis and longitudinal follow-up of retinal and choroidal vascular diseases. Observations: A 37-year-old man presented with vision loss in his left eye upon awakening from a left-sided septoplasty during which TA was injected. Examination of the left eye demonstrated retinal whitening in the macula, white material in the distal lumen of retinal arterioles, and multifocal hypopigmented choroidal lesions. SS-OCTA imaging showed the absence of detectable flow in areas of retinal and choroidal whitening. Corresponding B-scans demonstrated hyperreflective material, thought to be embolic TA, within the retinal vessels and inner choroid. Conclusions: Wide field SS-OCTA was sufficient for the diagnosis and longitudinal evaluation of retinal and choroidal occlusions without the need for dye-based angiography.

Yukinori Sugano, Tetsuju Sekiryu, Minoru Furuta, Ryutaro Tomita, Hiroaki Shintake, Hiroki Maehara, Akira Ojima Department of Ophthalmology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan Purpose: To assess the reproducibility of quantitative morphometrical evaluation of the choriocapillaris imaged with swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA).Subjects and methods: This observational, cross-sectional case series included 35 eyes of healthy individuals and 32 eyes of 32 patients. Two images of the fovea were taken using SS-OCTA with 3×3 mm squares. Images of the choriocapillaris within 800×800 pixel squares centered at the fovea were analyzed morphometrically using open-source software “AngioTool” that applies a Gaussian recursive filter and multiscale Hessian enhancement. This program’s vessel thickness and intensity parameters can be changed to aid vessel detection. We measured the pairs of images per eye with different parameter sets and calculated the intraclass correlation (ICC) for the morphometrical results. After determining the parameters that produced high reproducibility, we evaluated regional variations in 800×800 pixel mm squares within the fovea.Results: The ICCs for vessel area, total vessel length, vessel diameter index, and mean lacunarity were over 0.9 using the parameters of “vessel thickness” 3–4 and intensity 15 in the group including all subjects. When measurements were performed using these same parameter values, the vessel density and mean vessel diameter index were 60.5% and 19.1±0.389, respectively. Vessel density, vessel length, vessel diameter index, and mean lacunarity did not change significantly within an 800×800 pixel square centered at the fovea except for the 200×200 pixel square at the foveal center.Conclusion: SS-OCTA images of the choriocapillaris can be measured with high reproducibility by morphometrical evaluation using open-source software with multiscale Hessian enhancement. Such automated morphometric analysis can provide an objective evaluation of the choriocapillaris. Keywords: choriocapillaris, swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography, morphometry, vessel density

Grace L Su,1 Douglas M Baughman,2 Qinqin Zhang,3 Kasra Rezaei,2 Aaron Y Lee,2 Cecilia S Lee2 1Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2Department of Ophthalmology, 3Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare physician preferences regarding the commercially available spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and swept-source (SS) OCTA prototype device.Design: Comparative analysis of diagnostic instruments was performed.Patients and methods: Subjects at the University of Washington Eye Institute and Harborview Medical Center were prospectively recruited and imaged with the Zeiss SD OCTA (HD-5000, Angioplex) and Zeiss SS OCTA (Plex Elite, Everest) devices on the same day. The study included 10 eyes from 10 subjects diagnosed with a retinal/choroidal disease. Deidentified images were compiled into a survey and sent to retina specialists in various countries. The survey presented masked SD and SS images of each eye for each retinal sublayer side by side. Respondents were asked about their image preference and impact on clinical management. A priori and post hoc preferences for SD vs SS were collected.Results: Fifty-four retina specialists responded to the survey. Median years in practice was 3.00 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.50–17.00). At baseline, 23 (48%) physicians owned an OCTA machine. The majority of physician responses showed a preference for the SS over SD OCTA, independent of the retinal pathology shown (n=454 overall responses, 74%). Nevertheless, the majority indicated that both SD and SS would be equally valuable in informing clinical decisions (n=374 overall responses, 61%).Conclusion: These findings indicate that the majority of retina specialists surveyed prefer SS over SD OCTA based on image quality, regardless of the retinal pathology shown. Regarding the clinical utility of each modality, the majority of physicians perceive SD and SS as equally effective. Keywords: swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography, physician preference

Melanoma, characterized by high mortality, rapid development and accompanied with angiogenesis is the most typical malignant tumor in skin cancer. Hence, the detection of blood vessels is of much significance. The early vascular network has small scale. If we remove the tumor early and biopsy it, it will increase the spread of the cancer cells and infection and bleeding. In this case, we presented a new angiography method. A high-resolution OCT system for noninvasive angiographic imaging of early skin melanoma — Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS-OCTA) is proposed. With a high lateral resolution of 10μm in vivo tomographic angiography, SS-OCTA is used to image and identify the morphology of the early tumor blood vessels. In addition, a control group experiment is conducted to observe the growth of melanoma in the process of rupture, malformation of micro-vessels. The results of the analysis and statistical test (P

Melanoma, characterized by high mortality, rapid development and accompanied with angiogenesis is the most typical malignant tumor in skin cancer. Hence, the detection of blood vessels is of much significance. The early vascular network has small scale. If we remove the tumor early and biopsy it, it will increase the spread of the cancer cells and infection and bleeding. In this case, we presented a new angiography method. A high-resolution OCT system for noninvasive angiographic imaging of early skin melanoma — Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (SS-OCTA) is proposed. With a high lateral resolution of 10 μ m in vivo tomographic angiography, SS-OCTA is used to image and identify the morphology of the early tumor blood vessels. In addition, a control group experiment is conducted to observe the growth of melanoma in the process of rupture, malformation of micro-vessels. The results of the analysis and statistical test (P < 0. 0 5) are statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The aim of this observational cross-sectional work was to investigate early retinal vascular changes in patients undergoing idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) surgery using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA); (2) Methods: 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using SS-OCTA system (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA, USA). For each eye, five 6x6-mm OCTA volume scans were acquired by two observers independently. The en face images of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) were then exported to imageJ and a semi-automated algorithm was used for subsequent quantitative analysis. Perfusion density (PD), vessel length density (VLD), vessel diameter index (VDI) and vessel tortuosity (VT) of SCP were evaluated in both the parafoveal (2.5 mm diameter) and perifoveal areas (5.5 mm diameter); (3) Results: At OCTA analysis statistically significant differences were found between controls and diseased eyes for all parameters in parafoveal and perifoveal regions (p < 0.001; p < 0.05) except for perifoveal VLD. During 6-month follow up, both anatomical/perfusion and functional parameters showed a statistically significant improvement if compared to preoperative values. In detail, at one-month post vitrectomy, VLD and VT significantly changed in parafoveal region (p = 0.043; p = 0.045), while PD and VDI showed a trend of increase in both parafoveal and perifoveal region. At 6 months after surgery, PD, VLD and VT of parafoveal region significantly improved (p = 0.021, p = 0.018, p = 0.047 respectively). (4) Conclusions: SS-OCTA provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the superficial capillary plexus allowing for early vascular changes assessment after vitrectomy with iERM and ILM peeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]