Two-year Changes in Postoperative Central Macular Thickness and Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Epiretinal Membrane Patients

Purpose: To evaluate changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after phacovitrectomy over a 2-year period in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients.Methods: The records of 52 idiopathic ERM patients (52 eyes) who underwent phacovitrectomy, without recurrence of the condition over a 2-year follow-up period, were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in CMT and SFCT, as measured by optical coherence tomography, were analyzed and compared with those of a normal control group over a 2-year period.Results: The mean preoperative CMT and SFCT were 425.67 ± 84.67 and 257.56 ± 90.13 μm, respectively. Postoperative CMT was reduced significantly to 372.17 ± 45.26 μm at 1 year and 363.15 ± 47.35 μm at 2 years (p < 0.001). SFCT at 1 and 2 years postoperatively was significantly reduced to 238.85 ± 84.85 and 230.31 ± 87.95 μm, respectively (p < 0.001). In the control group, there was no significant change in CMT; however, the SFCT decreased by 11.09 ± 22.36 μm during the 2-year follow-up (p = 0.007). In contrast, in the patient group, CMT and SFCT decreased by 62.52 ± 71.45 and 27.25 ± 41.97 μm, respectively, showing a significant difference from the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.043, respectively). Both before surgery and at 1 year postoperatively, the thinner the CMT, the better the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (p = 0.010 and p = 0.018, respectively). A better postoperative BCVA at 2 years was associated with a thinner CMT and better BCVA before surgery (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions: Following a phacovitrectomy procedure, ERM patients showed significant reductions in both the CMT and SFCT at the 2-year follow-up.

The effect of silicone oil tamponade on retinal layers and choroidal thickness in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background To evaluate the effects of intravitreal silicone oil (SO) on the retinal and choroidal thickness in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods A literature search was performed in Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Embase, Clinical Key, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Springer, as well as Persian databases, including IranDoc, MagIran, SID, MOH thesis, and MOH articles until June 2020. Two reviewers independently searched and extracted the data. Results Sixteen studies (n = 391) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed that the SO tamponade could significantly reduce the central macular thickness (CMT) in patients with RRD as compared to gas tamponade WMD = − 14.91; 95% CI: − 22.23, − 7.60; P < 0.001, I2 = 71%). No significant change was found in CMT between the eye with SO tamponade (after SO removal) and the fellow healthy eye in patients with RRD (WMD = − 3.52; 95% CI: − 17.63, 10.59; I2 = 68.6%). Compared to the preoperative stage, the SO tamponade could significantly reduce the subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with RRD (WMD = − 18.67, 95% CI: − 30.07, − 1.28; I2 = 80.1%). However, there was no significant difference in the subfoveal choroidal thickness before and after SO removal (WMD = − 1.13, 95% CI: − 5.97, 3.71; I2 = 87.6%). Conclusion The SO tamponade had a significant effect on the reduction of retinal layers and the subfoveal choroidal thickness.

Evaluation of the impact of COPD severity grading and oxygen saturation on the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness in COPD patients

Background Retinal and choroidal blood vessels are involved in many systemic diseases because they are complex vascular systems. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is considered as an inflammatory disease that affects many systems and coexists with several co-morbidities. Systemic inflammation and hypoxia affect the macula, choroid, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and blood vessels. Ocular co-morbidities have been detected in COPD patients. These can be quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). Enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) is a quite new technique that utilizes light with an extended wavelength. An apparent relation has been found between chronic pulmonary disease and low corneal endothelial cell density preoperatively. So this work aimed to assess the impact of COPD severity grading and oxygen saturation on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness. Results This was a case-control study, recruited 50 COPD patients and another 50 healthy volunteers as a control group. Measuring the thickness of the RNFL (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) in the four quadrants as well as the subfoveal choroidal thickness was done to both groups. The RNFL thickness in all quadrants and the SFCT in the COPD group were statistically significantly thinner in comparison to the control group. The RNFL thickness (mean) was 79.16 ± 10.49 μm compared to 96.30 ± 4.66 μm in the control group (p value 0.001). The SFCT (mean) was 213.12 ± 25.61 μm compared to 354.62 ± 53.82 μm in the control group (p value 0.001). The degree of thinning of the RNFL (superior, inferior, and temporal) and the SCFT was related to COPD (GOLD) stages severity (p value 0.001). Nasal RNFL was thinned out in all stages of COPD (GOLD) but with no statistical significance (p value 0.264). Conclusion The choroid and retina seem to be of the affected tissues during the progressive inflammatory course of COPD. Ocular pathologies should be evaluated in patients with systemic hypoxia. The eye examination for COPD patients can be carried out via a non-invasive procedure such as the OCT and the changes in the RNFL and SFCT thickness could be used as indicators for the severity of COPD.

Correlation between Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness and Disease Activity in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe irreversible visual impairment worldwide. The disease has a deep impact on the quality of life of affected person and represents a major socioeconomic challenge. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a rapidly progressing disease which impacts central vision. It is responsible for 90% of cases of AMD associated severe vision loss. Choroidal thicknening is hypothesized to occur in the active phase of neovascular AMD. On the other hand, multiple studies reported progressive choroidal thinning in nAMD. Aim to study the correlation between choroidal thickness, and the activity of choroidal neovascularization in cases of neovascular (wet) Age related macular degeneration using Spectral domain Ocular coherence tomography. Methodology Our study included 33 eyes of 30 participants subdivided into neovascular AMD group (23 eyes of 20 patients), and age matched control group (10 eyes of 10 participants). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Avanti RTVue XR AngioVue OCT (Optovue Inc, Fremont, USA) was used to measure central foveal thickness (CFT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after conduction of complete ocular examination and history taking. Results Our study shows a significant decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness in neovascular AMD group (157.82 + 68.67 µm) when compared to the age matched control group (266.9+ 48.37 µm) with (P value &lt;0.001). But, we found no clinically significant difference in SFCT between active CNV (179.23 + 64.36 µm) and inactive CNV groups (136.4 + 72.97 µm) (P value = 0.19). Conclusion there is a significant thinning of choroid in nAMD in comparison to control. But no statistically significant difference in SFCT between active and inactive choroidal neovascular groups.

Changes in peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with central retinal vein occlusion

Purpose We sought to evaluate changes of mean peripapillary choroidal thickness (PCT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) over 12 months in patients with unilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods Our retrospective, observational study included 19 patients with treatment-naïve, unilateral CRVO who completed at least 12 months of follow-up period. Mean PCT and mean SFCT in CRVO-affected eyes and unaffected contralateral eyes were measured at each follow-up visit, and then compared. Differences between baseline and 12 months (ΔSFCT and ΔPCT) and percentage changes (ΔSFCT or ΔPCT/baseline×100%) were determined. We also investigated the predictive factors for visual outcome in the CRVO-affected eyes. Results In the CRVO-affected eyes, mean PCT was 146.7±41.9 μm at baseline, and 106.5±24.2 μm at 12 months (P < 0.001). Mean PCT of the contralateral eyes was 129.8±42.6 μm at baseline and 124.6±39.7 μm at 12 months (P = 0.089). Mean SFCT of CRVO-affected eyes was 225.8±77.9 μm at baseline, and 199.4±66.6 μm at 12 months (P = 0.009). Mean SFCT of the contralateral eyes was 218.4±83.0 μm at baseline, and 208.4±78.1 μm at 12 months (P = 0.089). Δ PCT was -41.6±25.3 μm in the CRVO-affected eyes, and -5.2±5.8 μm in the contralateral eyes (P<0.001). % PCT was -24.9±14.0% in the CRVO-affected eyes, and -4.0±0.4% in the contralateral eyes (P = 0.001). Δ SFCT was -26.4±24.6 μm in the CRVO-affected eyes, and -9.5±16.7μm in the contralateral eyes (P = 0.016). % SFCT was -10.4±9.8% in the CRVO-affected eyes, and -3.4±6.4% in the contralateral eyes (P = 0.015). Among the various factors, BCVA at baseline (β = 0.797, P = 0.001) and % SFCT (β = 0.712, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with visual outcome at 12 months in the CRVO-affected eyes. Conclusion Both peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal thickness reduced significantly over 12 months in the CRVO-affected eyes, but not in the contralateral eyes. In addition, the absolute reduction amount and reduction ratio of PCT and SFCT were significantly greater in the CRVO-affected eyes than the contralateral eyes.

Effects of Refractive Accommodation on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of refractive accommodation on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in silicone oil (SO)-filled eyes.METHODS: This retrospective, self-comparative study was conducted on 40 patients with unilateral macula-on rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, who underwent vitrectomy and SO tamponade. The SFCT of SO-filled eyes and the fellow control eyes were measured using optical coherence tomography at their one-month visit after surgery. The patients wore soft contact positive lenses for 24 hours in the SO-filled eyes, to correct their refractive error. SFCT and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were measured before and after wearing the contact lenses. Mean SFCT was compared between SO-filled eyes and the fellow control eyes, and SFCT and CVI were compared before and after refractive error correction in the SO-filled eyes.RESULTS: Mean SFCT of SO-filled eyes (221.52±38.41 um) was less than that of the fellow eyes (273.41±31.30 um) (P<0.001). After refractive error correction, the mean SFCT increased to 269.28±36.90 um(P <0.001). However, CVI decreased from 57.01±2.41 to 55.39±2.39 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: SFCT reduction in SO-filled eyes was primarily due to the hyperopia status. The non-uniform change in CVI suggests that changes in CT are mainly attributed to a greater expansion of the stromal area instead of the choroidal vascular area.