Assessment of choroidal vascularity index during the menstrual cycle

Purpose To explore the effect of menstrual cycle on choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Methods Thirty six eyes of 36 healthy women were included in this prospective study. The menstrual cycles were regular and ranged from 28 to 30 days in length. Optical coherence tomography images were obtained in 3 different phases of the menstrual cycle. The choroidal thickness (CT), total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and CVI were quantified. Results Mean subfoveal, nasal and temporal CT were significantly changed in mid-luteal phase in comparison to early follicular (p = 0.018, p = 0.006 and p = 0.001, respectively) and ovulatory phases (p = 0.037, p = 0.037, and p = 0.035, respectively). Mean CVI showed a significant change in mid-luteal phase when compared with early follicular (p = 0.001) and ovulatory phases (p = 0.036). Conclusion CVI seemed to be affected in mid-luteal phase of menstrual cycle. This should be considered while analyzing choroidal structure in otherwise healthy women.

Association of choroidal structure and body mass index in an adult population

Purpose: To determine the relation of choroidal structural parameters and body mass index (BMI) in an adult population. Methods: About 144 eyes of 144 healthy individuals were incorporated. There were four groups according to BMI values: Group 1 (⩽18.5), group 2 (18.6–24.9), group 3 (25.0–29.9), and group 4 (30.0–34.9). The enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography images were binarized using Image-J software. Choroidal thickness (CT), circumscribed choroidal area (CCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were calculated. Results: Mean subfoveal, nasal, and temporal CT were lower in group 4 rather than group 1 ( p = 0.032, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Mean nasal and temporal CT also showed a decrease in group 4 as compared to group 2 ( p = 0.04 and p = 0.039). Mean CCA and LA were decreased in group 4 in comparison to group 3 ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.001), group 2 ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001), and group 1 ( p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). Mean SA showed a decrease only in group 3 rather than group 2 ( p = 0.021) and group 1 ( p = 0.008). Mean CVI was decreased in group 3 and group 4 in comparison to group 1 ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) and group 2 ( p = 0.002 and p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased BMI percentile was associated with a decrease in CT and structural parameters.

Choroidal structural evaluation in celiac disease

This observational case–control study assessed the differences in choroidal structure between patients with celiac disease and healthy subjects utilizing the choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Seventy-four celiac patients and 67 healthy subjects underwent a complete ophthalmological evaluation, axial length (AL) measurements and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging mode (EDI SD-OCT) evaluation. These images were binarized and choroidal vasculature was analyzed. Choroidal total subfoveal area (TSA), luminal subfoveal area (LSA), stromal subfoveal area (SSA), CVI and subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) were measured. Furthermore, subfoveal CT, TSA, LSA, SSA, and CVI were also correlated with AL. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for TSA, LSA, SSA and subfoveal CT, but not for CVI. In celiac patients, a significant correlation was found between AL and TSA, LSA and SSA, but not with CVI. Similar findings were also noticed in the healthy subjects. Thus, celiac patients have a thicker choroid than healthy subjects, regardless of the AL, due to a proportional increase in both the vascular and stromal components, which does not alter the CVI.

Correlations between OCT and histological findings in choroidal melanomas

It is known that OCT-detected retinal changes are comparable with histology resalts. Choroidal structure on EDI-OCT also comparable with histology. Purpose. To compare OCT-changes with pathomorphology in same microscopic sections. Material and methods. The analysis of OCT tomograms of 5 patients with choroidal melanomas (CM), who subsequently underwent primary enucleation. The patients age was 55,2±10,57 years. The maximum CM elevation is 4,85±1,76 mm, the maximum diameter is 13,09±4,14 mm. Results and discussion. The correlation of tomographic and histological picture was obtained in the following signs: signs of destruction of Bruch's membrane, the presence of hyperreflective changes at the RPE level, photoreceptors changes, the presence of neuroepithelial detachment, the presence of intraretinal cavities. Partial correlation - for signs of the presence of subretinal transudate and infiltration of the outer layers of the retina. No correlation was obtained for the signs of infiltration of the inner retina layers and the inner limitans membrane breakthrough with CM dissemination on a retinal surface. Conclusions. Comparison of OCT signs of MC with pathomorphological studies in 5 enucleated eyes made it possible to expand the interpretation of signs of CM spreading on OCT beyond the Bruch's membrane with the tumor growth zones formation in the retina. Key words: choroidal melanoma, optical coherence tomography of the retina, histological examination.

Correlation between choroidal structure and smoking in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose A smoking habit can cause various health problems encompassing retinal diseases including central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of smoking on the choroidal structure in patients with CSC. Methods The choroidal vascular index (CVI) was calculated using the binarized OCT images. Baseline parameters (age, refractive error [SE], subfoveal choroidal thickness [SFCT] and CVI) were compared between smokers and non-smokers using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Moreover, the associations between SFCT and the baseline parameters were analyzed using a multivariate linear regression followed by the AICc model selection. Results Among 75 CSC patients, 45 patients were smokers and 30 patients were non-smokers. No significant differences in age and SE were seen between the smoking group and the non-smoking group. A significant difference in the SFCT was seen between two groups (382.0 ± 68.2 μm in the smoking group vs. 339.3 ± 52.3 μm in the non-smoking group, p = 0.0038), while no significant difference was observed in the CVI (p = 0.32). The optimal model for SFCT included the variables of age, SE and past history of smoking among the baseline parameters. Additionally, increased pack years was associated with increased SFCT. Conclusion Cigarette smoking was associated with an increased SFCT in patients with CSC. Thicker choroid in smoking CSC patients may be an important modulator of the disease.

Assessment of the choroidal structure in pregnant women in the first trimester

We investigated the anatomical differences in the choroidal structure between pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy and age-matched healthy nonpregnant women using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and choroidal binarization analysis. The main parameters measured in the two study groups, namely, pregnant women in the first trimester and healthy nonpregnant women, were choroidal thickness and the choroidal luminal area. Binarization of the EDI-OCT images from each patient was performed, and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) was calculated. The correlations between the baseline characteristics of the subjects and the CVI were investigated using linear mixed model analysis. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean age, best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, central retinal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, systolic blood pressure (BP), or diastolic BP between the two study groups. Conversely, a significant difference was observed in the CVI (P = 0.012) between the two groups. The multivariate analysis identified a significant correlation between the CVI and the systolic BP (P = 0.0044, linear mixed test). Taken together, a larger choroidal luminal area was associated with a higher systolic BP, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Our findings may provide further insight into the choroidal changes that occur during pregnancy.

Swept source OCT-Angiography assessing a case of aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization secondary to high-myopic posterior staphyloma

Aim: To report an uncommon case of aneurysmal type 1 neovascularization (polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy) secondary to high-myopic staphyloma in a Caucasian patient, assessed with multimodal imaging including swept source OCT-Angiography. Methods: Observational case report Results: About 73-year-old Caucasian male patient with high myopia (axial length = 27.24 mm). Fundus examination showed a myopic conus and a deep orange-brownish nodular lesion at the edge of a deep haemorrhage and connected to a large choroidal vessel. ICGA showed a circular hyperfluorescent lesion in mid-phase, without any branching vascular network. OCT-Angiography could detect the aneurysmal lesion non-invasively as a small circular high-flow lesion in the outer retina slab, with a shadowing in the choriocapillaris slab. At the level of the aneurysmal lesion, structural OCT showed a high bilobed PED, without any subretinal fluid. A vascular flow was noted within the PED on cross-sectional OCT-A, confirming the vascular aneurysmal nature of this lesion. Additionally, swept source OCT highlighted the presence of an abrupt change in choroidal thickness, from 62 µm in the peripapillary area to 120 µm underneath the polypoidal lesion, with dilated choroidal vessels. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of OCT-A findings in aneurysmal (polypoidal) dilation secondary to high-myopic staphyloma. We could demonstrate the usefulness of OCT-A detecting non-invasively the aneurysmal dilation and the usefulness of swept source OCT assessing the choroidal structure to better understand the pathophysiology of this uncommon finding.