Choroidal vascularity profile in diabetic eyes using wide field optical coherence tomography. Issue 2 (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gujar, Ramkailash; Cagini, Carlo; Fruttini, Daniela; Corbucci, Roberta; Rasheed, Mohammed Abdul; Vupparaboina, Kiran Kumar; Mariotti, Cesare; Chhablani, Jay; Lupidi, Marco
• Is Part Of: European journal of ophthalmology. Volume 33:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 1140
• Page End: 1146
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Diabetic retinopathy -- choroidal vascularity index -- wide-field optical coherence tomography; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1177/11206721221143161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1120-6721

Abstract

Purpose: To report the wide-field choroidal vascularity up to the mid-equator area in diabetic retinopathy (DR) subjects using wide-field optical coherence tomography (WF-OCT). Design: Prospective, Cross-sectional study. Participants: Forty-seven eyes of 25 DR subjects. Methods: WF-OCT images (55 degrees) were obtained using Spectralis HRA + OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) in extremes of gazes in all quadrants and manual montages were created to obtain wide field images up to mid equator. A previously reported semi-automated algorithm was used to calculate choroidal vascularity profile (CVI). Regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing CVI. Results: Forty-seven eyes from 25 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 68.4 ± 10.6 years. The refractive error (spherical equivalent) ranged from −2.25 to +3.75 diopters. Most common DR grade among study subjects was moderate NPDR (29.41%) and 74.5% eyes had diabetic macular edema (DME). The mean CVI in the macular area (58.29 ± 3.63) was significantly lower than in any of the other fundus areas (all p ˂ 0.01). The maximum CVI was seen in the nasal region (66.60 ± 5.61), followed by temporal (65.69 ± 3.81), superior (65.01 ± 4.87), and inferior (63.80 ± 5.42). The vertical macular area had the least coefficient of variation (CV) of CVI (0.06) while the inferior quadrant had the highest CV (0.08). Conclusion: The current study describes the CVI profile on WF-OCT in DR eyes up to mid-equator. The significant increase of the CVI compared to healthy subjects and its significant regional variations introduce this novel quantitative parameter as a reliable biomarker of the diabetes-induced choroidal microangiopathy.