Prevalence of subclinical macular neovascularization in fellow eyes of unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration on OCT-angiography

Author: Racem Choura (Tunisia)

Co-authors: Rahma Saidane, Asma Khallouli, Dhouha Gouider, Slim Selmi, Afef Maalej, Riadh Rannen

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of subclinical macular neovascularization (MNV) in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and to quantify choriocapillaris non-perfusion adjacent to MNV.

Setting/Venue

An observational monocentric retrospective study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology in the Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.

Methods

We conducted an observational monocentric retrospective study consisting in reviewing all patients with AMD who underwent OCT-A between February 2019 and January 2021 in our Department. Patients with unilateral exudative AMD were included. We determined the presence of subclinical MNV on en-face macular OCT-A sections of the outer retina and choriocapillaris. The choriocapillaris non-perfusion area (CCNPA) has been quantified in proportion to the entire choriocapillaris layer as well as to the 250 µm surrounding subclinical and exudative MNV.

Results

Among the 84 AMD patients who underwent OCT-A, twenty-one had unilateral exudative AMD and thus met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 69.05 ± 9.74 years. Subclinical MNV was present in two of the 21 fellow eyes (9.5%). The proportion of CCNPA to the 250 µm surrounding area was significantly higher than to the entire choriocapillaris layer (15.5±6.5% versus 10.5±4.5%, p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference has been found between CCNPA in exudative MNV eyes and fellow subclinical MNV eyes (p= 0.09).

Conlusions

Subclinical MNV in fellow eyes with unilateral exudative MNV should be investigated. Choriocapillaris non-perfusion seems to be more extensive adjacent to all MNV lesions.

Financial Disclosure

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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