ABSTRACT
To compare subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) between cases with non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration ( AMD) and neovascular AMD by optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) and to evaluate the contribution of choroidal thickness (CT) measurements to the understanding of pathogenesis of neovascularization in AMD. ●METHODS: Fourty - eigth eyes of 24 patients who had neovascular AMD in one eye and non- neovascular AMD in the other eye were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional study as study group. Forty eyes of healthy,age and axial length matched individuals were selected as the control group. Eyes with drusen and/ or pigmentary changes were included in the non - neovascular AMD subgroup. Eyes with subretinal or intraretinal fluid and/orlipid exudation due to the choroidal neovascularization were included in the neovascular AMD subgroup. OCT measurements were performed with RTVue 100-2 (V 5. 1, Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) perpendicularly from the outer part of the hyperreflective line ( retinal pigment epithelial layer) to the line corresponding to the choroido-scleral junction. Choroidal thickness was measured at 7 different points, 500μ m intervals up to 1500μ m temporal and nasal to the fovea in the study group and compared statistically between subgroups. ●RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 72. 4±8. 97 (60-82)y. The mean age of healthy individuals was 71. 2±8. 8 (58- 81) y. Mean SFCT of neovascular AMD group were significantly thicker than non- neovascular AMD group (P0. 05). ln neovascular AMD group, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean SFCT and the mean temporal-nasal choroid thickness (P ●CONCLUSlON: Choroidal thickness measurements with OCT device can make a contribution to the understanding the phatophysiology of AMD and large prospective studies should be conducted to understand why SFCT was thicker in neovascular AMD.
