ABSTRACT
Background: Subretinal hyper-reflective material (SHRM) sometimes causes vision loss in spite of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). We evaluated the impacts of combination therapy with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in eyes with nvAMD accompanying SHRM. Methods: In total, 25 eyes of 25 patients (16 men and 9 women, 76.7 years old), who underwent IVR/tPA for nvAMD with SHRM and were followed up for at least 12 months, were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 15 eyes were treatment-naïve and 10 eyes had previous treatment for nvAMD. Results: In total, 16 eyes had type 2 macular neovascularization (MNV), 5 eyes type 1 MNV with fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment and 4 eyes polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. At month 12, SHRM regressed or reduced in 18 eyes (72%) and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 6 eyes (24%) and was unchanged in 14 eyes (56%), while the mean BCVA was just stabilized. The mean central retinal thickness, macular volume and SHRM thickness significantly improved from 408 µm to 287 µm, from 11.9 mm3 to 9.6 mm3, from 369 µm to 165 µm, respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The combination therapy with IVR/tPA for nvAMD with SHRM may help preserve vision by prompt regression of SHRM.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report a case of hypertensive choroidopathy with bilateral bullous serous retinal detachments (SRDs), retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs), and giant retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tears. OBSERVATIONS: A 68-year-old man with a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented with bilateral visual loss of about 10 day's duration. He discontinued his oral medications for 2 months without the advice of a physician. At his first visit, the best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were 0.02 in the right eye and 0.3 in the left eye (decimal notation), and the respective intraocular pressures were 15 and 13â¯mmHg. Bullous SRDs, large PEDs, and giant RPE tears were present bilaterally. Blot retinal hemorrhages and hard exudates were seen in the left eye. The systemic blood pressure was 231/77â¯mmHg, and bilateral lower leg edema was observed. Biochemical blood tests showed deteriorated renal function, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglycemia. Ultra-wide-field fundus fluorescein angiography showed leakage at the areas of the SRDs and hyperfluorescent areas corresponding to the RPE tears bilaterally. Indocyanine green angiography showed hypofluorescent areas corresponding to the PEDs. Systemic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, and no malignancy was found. Based on these findings, hypertensive choroidopathy was diagnosed. A week after antihypertensive treatment, the SRDs and PEDs resolved bilaterally, and the BCVAs improved to 0.4 and 0.5 in the right and left eyes, respectively. The RPE tears remained in both eyes, although the SRDs and PEDs did not recur. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Hypertensive choroidopathy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of SRDs and/or PEDs.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To develop a new method to quantify the choroidal vessel density by binarizing ultra-wide-field indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) images and determine whether values are altered in diseased eyes. DESIGN: Reliability and validity analysis. METHODS: Ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography (FA) and ICGA images were obtained using an ultra-wide-field imaging device (Optos California ultra-wide-field imaging device; Dunfermline, Scotland, UK) in 11 eyes of 11 patients without chorioretinal diseases. The angiographic signals of the choroidal vessels were determined by subtracting those of the retinal vasculature and optic disc on the FA images from the ICGA images, binarized by Niblack's method, and the choroidal vessel density calculated. Reproducibility of the method was assessed by calculating the coefficient of variance, coefficient of repeatability, and intraclass correlation coefficient. The relationships between age, spherical equivalent refractive error (SERE), and intraocular pressure and the vasculature density were assessed. To investigate possible impacts of chorioretinal diseases on the vasculature density, 10 eyes of 7 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) were compared with the 11 control eyes. RESULTS: Choroidal vessels were contrasted by binarizing ICGA images. The method to quantify the choroidal vessel density showed high reproducibility. The SERE was correlated significantly (r = 0.573, P < .05) with the vasculature density. In the 11 control eyes, the vasculature density was 34.26% ± 0.77% in the entire area, 31.37% ± 0.97% in the superior portion, 36.98% ± 0.88% in the inferior portion, 37.01% ± 1.44% in the posterior portion, and 34.17% ± 0.77% in the peripheral portion. In eyes with CSC, the density was significantly (P < .05) higher: 36.46% ± 0.49%, 34.02% ± 0.97%, 38.65% ± 0.27%, 41.04% ± 0.82%, and 36.36% ± 0.51%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Binarization of ultra-wide-field ICGA images enabled quantification of the choroidal vessel density, which was altered in eyes with CSC. This method of measuring the choroidal vessel density may provide new insights into diagnosing and treating chorioretinal diseases.
