ObjectiveTo observe multimodal imaging characteristics in eyes with focal choroidal excavation (FCE) and preliminarily analyze the risk factors in FCE with complications correlated with RPE.MethodsA retrospective case series. Thirty-one patients (31 eyes) with monocular FCE, first identified by spectral-domain (SD)-OCT in the Eye Center of The Second People’s Hospital of Foshan from December 2014 to December 2018, were involved in this study. There were 14 males and 17 females, with the mean age of 45.84±13.57 years. All patients underwent BCVA, optometry, and SD-OCT examinations. FFA and ICGA were simultaneously performed in 3 FCE patients with RPE complications. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and excavation width were measured with enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT). The eyes with FCE were divided into two groups (FCE alone group 17 eyes vs. FCE complication group 14 eyes), based on whether complicated by RPE dysfunction. Among 14 eyes of FCE complication group, 7 (22.6%) with choroidal neovascularization, 4 (12.9%) with central serous chorioretinopathy, 1 (3.2%) with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and 2 (6.5%) with RPE detachment. No significant difference was found in the mean age (t=0.87), gender composition (χ2=0.06), ocular laterality (χ2=2.58), and spherical equivalent (t=−0.81) between two groups, respectively (P＞0.05), except that the BCVA was significantly different (t=−2.11, P＜0.05). The SFCT and excavation width of eyes in both groups and the ICGA imaging characteristics of eyes in FCE complication group were analyzed. Risk factors of FCE with RPE complications were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.ResultsThirty-three excavations were identified in 31 eyes with FCE. The mean SFCT was 167.00±85.18 μm in FCE alone group vs. 228.36±67.95 μm in FCE complication group, while the excavation width was 645.00±231.93 μm vs. 901.00±420.55 μm and they were both significantly different (P＜0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed the SFCT (OR=1.016, P=0.026) and excavation width (OR=1.004, P=0.034) were risk factors for RPE complications of FCE. EDI-OCT showed the RPE at the excavation was impaired or vulnerable in all eyes of the FCE alone group, especially at the boundary area of excavation. The RPE damages were located at the boundary area of excavation in 10 eyes (71.4%) of FCE complication group. Constant choroidal hypofluorescence and filling defect were observed under the excavation in 3 eyes with ICGA imaging.ConclusionsSFCT and excavation width may be risk factors for RPE complications of FCE. Impairment of RPE at boundary area of excavation and focal choroidal ischemia or aberrant circulation under the excavation may correlate with the development of FCE complications.