As a new and non-invasive imaging technology, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been using in ocular fundus diseases, glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic disorders for more than 4 years. The most valuable and efficient application of OCTA is in detecting neovascular diseases in the macula. The big advantage of OCTA is for diagnosing all kinds of choroidal neovascularization. OCTA can observe blood flow information in different layers of the retina. To a large extent, it changes our diagnostic thinking and pathway in macular diseases. Before acquiring OCTA image, the operator should be well trained to ensure to get high quality images with good signal strength and less artifact. OCTA report should show the segmentation slab that the ophthalmologist wants to see. So far, OCTA has difficulty to reach peripheral retina with default setting. Even so, OCTA has provided much information of blood flow within retinal vascular arcade for evaluating structural and functional changes. We are expecting that the swept source OCTA could give us better observation of the choroidal blood flow. That should be the breakthrough of the new generation of OCTA.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the image characteristics of eyes with choroidal osteoma using swept-source OCT (SS-OCT).MethodsSeventy-three eyes of 61 patients with choroidal osteoma were enrolled in the study, including 17 males (20 eyes) and 44 females (53 eyes) with an average age of 33.5±12.7 years. Single tumor was found in 71 eyes and multiple tumors were found in 2 eyes. All patients received examinations of slit lamp ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography and/or indocyanine green angiography, B-scan ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography. Tumor features were characterized using SS-OCT.ResultsAmong 75 tumors of 73 eyes, the osteoma was completely calcified in 7 tumors, completely decalcified in 5 tumors and all the other tumors were composed of calcified and decalcified portions. SS-OCT revealed normal inner retina in all the calcified areas of tumors and abnormal outer retina including external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, interdigitation zone and RPE in some cases. Whereas the outer retina and RPE showed abnormality in the decalcified areas of all cases. The choriocapillaris was invisible in all cases and most of the medium and large caliber vessels showed thinning or nonvisibility. Choroidal osteoma revealed a sponge-like appearance (n=39), loofah sponge appearance (n=11), lamellar pattern (n=10), mixed (n=12) and irregular patterns (n=5). Other unique features included horizontal lamellar lines (n=71), hyperreflective horizontal lines (n=47) and hyporeflective tubules (horizontal:n=39, vertical:n=42, circular:n=41) within choroidal osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were also detected above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane. The sclero-choroidal junction was detectable in all tumors and a posterior ciliary vessel penetrating the sclera was also seen.ConclusionsSS-OCT clearly reveals characteristic appearances of choroidal osteoma as sponge-like, loofah sponge, lamellar pattern, mixed and irregular patterns, with unique features of horizontal lamellar lines, hyperreflective horizontal lines and hyporeflective tubules within osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were detected to grow above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane.
ObjectiveTo investigate the alteration of retinal perfusion in aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-ab) positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) patients by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsA case-control study. Forty-eight AQP4-ab positive NMOSD patients (96 eyes) and 20 age and gender matched healthy controls (40 eyes) were recruited from September 2015 to August 2017 at the Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University. Patients of both eyes were included in the groups. The patients were further divided into 4 subgroups (0 ON, 1 ON, 2 ON, 3+ ON group) according to the number of episodes of ON (0, 1, 2, or 3+) with respect to 30、22、31、13 eyes. 0 ON group had no history of ON episodes; 1 ON group, 2 ON group, and 3+ ON group had ON episodes 1, 2, ≥3 times, respectively. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examinations including BCVA, visual field and OCTA examination. The BCVA was recorded for each eye using metric notation from the Snellen chart, and then converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution. The central visual field was assessed using a Humphrey Field Analyzer 750 and the mean deviation (MD) was determined. OCTA scans of the optic disc (4.5 mm × 4.5 mm) and macula (6 mm × 6 mm) were acquired. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density, superficial capillary plexus vessel density (SVD), the thickness of ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) were determined. The generalized estimating equations was performed to compare the difference of BCVA, MD, pRNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness, RPC vessel density and SVD among the groups and the correlations between retinal perfusion and retinal structure, visual function were analyzed. ResultsThe RPC vessel density and SVD were significant lower in the 0 ON group compared with healthy group (Wald χ2=7.190, 10.134; P＜0.01), however, the BCVA, pRNFL and GCIPL thickness were not significant difference between the two groups (Wald χ2=2.308, 1.020, 2.558; P＞0.05). The BCVA, visual field MD, RPC vessel density, SVD, pRNFL and GCIPL were significant lower in 1 ON, 2 ON and 3+ ON groups compared with healthy group and 0 ON group (Wald χ2=12.390, 11.346, 38.860, 18.040, 45.418, 26.608; P＜0.001 ), but the parameters had no significant difference among the three groups (P＞0.05). The RPC vessel density was significantly correlated with pRNFL thickness (β=0.372, standard error=0.018, P＜0.001), and the SVD was significantly correlated with GCIPL thickness (β=0.115, standard error=0.204, P＜0.001). The MD and BCVA was significantly correlated with peripapillary vessel density after adjustment for other variables (BCVA: β=0.025, standard error=0.005, P=0.000; visual field MD: β=0.737, standard error=0.185, P=0.000).ConclusionsSubclinical primary retinal vasculopathy may occur in NMOSD prior to ON attack, the ON attack may further impair visual function, retinal structure and perfusion, however, the extent of injure is not relevant with the increase of ON attack. The peripapillary vessel density might be a sensitive predictor of visual outcomes in NMOSD patients.
Objective To observe the serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels in retinal branch vein occlusion (BRVO) patients with with hypertension or non-hypertension. Methods A total of 120 patients (120 eyes) with BRVO were divided into hypertension group [72 eyes, blood pressure 140 - 175/90 - 105 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)] and non-hypertension group (48 eyes, blood pressure 100 - 139/70 - 88 mmHg). According to the sex and age, 78 patients with hypertensive non-retinal vascular diseases and 48 patients with non-hypertensive and non-retinal vascular diseases were collected by a way of same-size ratio as hypertension control group and non-hypertension control group, respectively. Fasting venous blood was collected from all patients in the morning and serum Hcy levels were measured by rate method. The total Hcy concentration over 15.0 μ mol/L was defined as high level Hcy. Fasting serum glucose and fasting serum lipid were also measured. Measurement data among groups were compared with t test. Results The serum Hcy levels were (26.82±28.0), (8.39±3.11), (21.37±4.24), (9.25±3.31) μmol/L in the hypertension group, hypertension control group, non-hypertension group and non-hypertension control group, respectively. The serum Hcy levels of patients in the hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the hypertension control group (t=3.324, P=0.004). The serum Hcy levels of patients in the non-hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the non-hypertension control group (t=2.216, P=0.049). The serum Hcy levels of patients in the hypertension group was significantly higher than that in the non-hypertension group, but the difference had not statistical significance (t=0.581, P=0.566). Among 120 patients, there were 68 patients (56.67%) with high level of Hcy (40 patients in the hypertension group and 28 patients in the non-hypertension group). Among the 40 patients with high levels of Hcy in the hypertension group, 36 patients were older than 50 years old (90.00%) and 4 patients were less or equal than 50 years old (10.00%). Among the 28 patients with high levels of Hcy in the non-hypertension group, 16 patients were older than 50 years old (57.14%); 12 patients were less or equal than 50 years old (42.86%), whose indexes of serum glucose and serum lipid were not abnormal. There was significant difference in age distribution of patients with high level of Hcy between the hypertension group and the non-hypertension group (χ2=9.882, P=0.002), but there was no significant difference in sex distribution (χ2=2.052, P=0.216). Conclusions The level of serum Hcy increased both in BRVO patients with hypertension and non-hypertension. The indexes of serum glucose and serum lipid were not abnormal in BRVO patients aged less or equal than 50 years old with non-hypertensive except for the increase of serum Hcy level.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of oral glucocorticoids in the treatment of acute non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).MethodsA prospective clinical study. From December 2017 to June 2020, 40 eyes of 40 patients with acute NAION who were diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of Tengzhou Central People's Hospital were included in the study. All the affected eyes underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination of optic disc; 35 eyes (BCVA≥0.1) underwent visual field examination at the same time. The BCVA examination was carried out using the international standard decimal visual acuity chart, which was converted into the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity during statistics. The static visual field inspection was performed with Humphrey automatic perimeter to obtain the average mean deviation (MD) value. The thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fire layer (pRNFL) around the optic disc of the affected eye was measured with an OCT instrument. According to the wishes of patients, they were divided into hormone treatment group and control group. All were given vitamin B1 and methylcobalamin orally; the hormone treatment group was given oral prednisone acetate treatment, 60 mg/d (regardless of body weight); after 2 weeks, the dose was reduced by 5 mg every 5 days, and the dose was reduced to 40 mg and maintained until optic disc edema subsides; thereafter, the dose was quickly reduced until the drug was stopped. Three and 6 months after treatment, the same equipment and methods were used for related examinations before treatment to observe the thickness changes of BCVA, MD, and pRNFL. The thickness of BCVA, MD, and pRNFL between the two groups was compared by Mann-Whitney U test. The thickness of BCVA, MD, and pRNFL before and after treatment within the group was compared by rank analysis of variance. ResultsAmong 40 eyes of 40 cases, 21 eyes were in the hormone treatment group, and 19 eyes were in the control group. There were differences in age, sex composition, course of disease, associated systemic risk factors, BCVA, MD, and pRNFL thickness between the two groups. There was no statistical significance (P＞0.05). At 3 and 6 months after treatment, the average logMAR BCVA of the eyes of the hormone treatment group and the control group were 0.26±0.32, 0.26±0.34, 0.28±0.30, 0.25±0.32, respectively. The visual field MD were －15.52±6.87, －15.55±6.04 dB and －14.82±7.48, －15.18±6.40 dB; pRNFL thickness was 70.38±10.22, 73.79±11.82 μm and 65.67±10.07, 69.26±10.85 μm. LogMAR BCVA (Z=－0.014, －0.315; P=1.000, 0.768), visual field MD (Z=－0.041, －0.068; P=0.979, 0.957), pRNFL thickness (Z= －0.965, －1.112; P=0.347, 0.270), the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionCompared with the control group, oral glucocorticoid treatment of acute NAION fail to improve the visual function and morphological prognosis during the 6-month follow-up period.
ObjectiveTo establish an artificial intelligence robot-assisted diagnosis system for fundus diseases based on deep learning optical coherence tomography (OCT) and evaluate its application value. MethodsDiagnostic test studies. From 2016 to 2019, 25 000 OCT images of 25 000 patients treated at the Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were used as training sets and validation sets for the fundus intelligent assisted diagnosis system. Among them, macular epiretinal membrane (MERM), macular edema, macular hole, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were 5 000 sheets each. The training set and the verification set are 18 124 and 6 876 sheets, respectively. Through the transfer learning Attention ResNet structure algorithm, the OCT image was characterized by lesion identification, the disease feature was extracted by a specific procedure, and the given image was distinguished from other types of disease according to the statistical characteristics of the target lesion. The model algorithms of MERM, macular edema, macular hole, CNV and AMD were initially formed, and the fundus intelligent auxiliary diagnosis system of five models was established. The performance of each model-assisted diagnosis in the fundus intelligent auxiliary diagnostic system was evaluated by applying the subject working characteristic curve, area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. ResultsWith the intelligent auxiliary diagnosis system, the diagnostic sensitivity of the MERM was 93.5%, the specificity was 99.23%, and AUC was 0.983 7; the diagnostic sensitivity of macular edema was 99.02%, the specificity was 98.17%, and AUC was 0.994 6; the diagnostic sensitivity of macular hole was 98.91%, the specificity was 99.91%, AUC was 0.996 2; the diagnostic sensitivity of CNV was 97.54%, the specificity was 94.71%, AUC was 0.987 5; the diagnostic sensitivity of AMD was 95.12%, the specificity was 97.09%, AUC was 0.985 3. ConclusionsThe artificial intelligence robot-assisted diagnosis system for fundus diseases based on deep learning for OCT images has accurate and efficient diagnostic performance for assisting the diagnosis of MERM, macular edema, macular hole, CNV, and AMD.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical and multimodal imaging features of eyes with acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MethodsA retrospective study. From December 20, 2022 to January 17, 2023, a total of 29 patients (58 eyes) with COVID-19-associated AMN admitted to Department of Ophthalmology of Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College were included in the study. All the affected eyes underwent the best corrected visual acuity, color fundus photography, infrared fundus photography (IR), short-wavelength autofluorescence (SW-AF), near-infrared autofluorescence (NIL-AF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography (OCTA). All patients were administered microcirculation-improving oral medication with 12 cases receiving adjunctive low-dose corticosteroid therapy. Follow-ups were conducted 1 to 3 months after the initial diagnosis, with a total of 19 cases (38 eyes) completing the one-month follow-up. ResultsOut of the 29 cases, there were 9 males (18 eyes) and 20 females (40 eyes), all of whom experienced bilateral eye involvement. The age of the patients ranged from 12 to 47 years, with an average age of (29.9±9.5) years. The time from the onset of fever to the appearance of ocular symptoms was (2.52±2.01) days. Among the 58 affected eyes, there were 5 cases with retinal cotton wool spots, 2 cases with optic disc edema, and 1 case with parafoveal branch retinal vein occlusion. All affected eyes exhibited deep reddish-brown macular dark spots. IR revealed wedge-shaped, wedge-like, or "petaloid-like" dark areas involving the fovea and parafovea. SW-AF examination showed no obvious abnormality in 39 eyes. Weak autofluorescence dark area were consistent with IR in 19 eyes. NIR-AF examination showed spot-like or flaky self-fluorescent dark areas. OCT examination showed strong reflex lesions spreading vertically upward from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer in the macular area in the acute stage, showing typical "bean seedling" sign. OCTA revealed reduced blood flow density in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) of 50 eyes. En-face OCT displayed lesion areas that corresponded to the dark areas seen in IR. One month after the initial diagnosis, the condition improved in 18 eyes (47.4%, 18/38). Among the 5 eyes with cotton wool spots, regression of these spots was accompanied by loss of nerve fiber layer in 4 eyes. In cases with optic disc edema, the edema subsided. The "bean sprout" sign disappeared in all affected eyes, and the lesions became localized. The ellipsoid zone and/or interdigitation zone in the lesion areas were discontinuous. ConclusionsCOVID-19-related AMN is characterized by distinctive features. IR fundus reveals wedge-shaped, wedge-like, or petaloid dark areas involving the fovea and parafovea. OCT displays strongly reflective lesions with vertical spread above the RPE. OCTA shows reduced blood flow density in the DCP of the retina.