ABSTRACT
Objective:To compared the changes of macular microvascular architecture in early stage familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) patients with inner retinal layer (IRL) persistence and without IRL persistence.Methods:A retrospective clinical study. From 2017 to 2022, 94 patients with stage 1 FEVR with or without IRL residue and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers with 45 eyes (normal control group) who were confirmed by ophthalmology examination in Hangzhou Hospital of Optometry Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University and Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital were included in the study. According to whether there was IRL residue, the patients were divided into IRL group and non-IRL group, with 22 patients (22 eyes) and 72 patients (72 eyes), respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed in all eyes. Superficial vessel density (SCP) and deep vessel density (DCP) of whole image, fovea and parafovea, the area and perimeter of fovea avascular area (FAZ), A-circularity index (AI, perimeter/standard circle perimeter with equal area) and vessel density around the 300 μm width of the FAZ (FD), central macular thickness (CMT) on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were measured.Results:SCP and DCP of whole image ( F=10.774, 4.583) and parafovea ( F=10.433, 3.912), CMT ( F=171.940) in IRL group and non-IRL group on macular 3 mm × 3 mm scan on OCTA were significantly lower than that in normal persons ( P<0.05). There were significant differences among three groups of the area of FAZ ( F=4.315), AI ( F=3.413), FD-300 ( F=13.592) ( P<0.05). BCVA were worst in IRL group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Blood flow density decreased in macular area of FEVR patients. CMT is significantly thicker than normal population. The FAZ area of the foveal IRL residual eyes is small and irregular, with worse BCVA and lower macular blood density.