OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY FEATURES OF SUBRETINAL FIBROSIS IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Abstract

Purpose: To report the imaging features of subretinal fibrosis secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on optical coherence tomography angiography.

Methods: All consecutive patients diagnosed with subretinal fibrosis complicating exudative AMD were imaged by color retinal photographs or multicolor imaging, fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography. Eyes with active exudative features observed during the last 6 months were compared with those without any sign of exudation >6 months.

Results: Forty-nine eyes of 47 consecutive patients were included. A blood flow inside the fibrotic scar could be detected in 46 of 49 cases (93.8%). Three patterns of vascular networks could be distinguished, that were described as pruned vascular tree (26 of 49 eyes; 53.1%), tangled network (14 of 49; 28.6%), and/or vascular loop (25 of 49; 51.0%). Furthermore, 2 types of hyporeflective structures, large flow void, and/or dark halo were observed in 63% and in 65% of eyes, respectively. The observed patterns did not differ between eyes with active or inactive lesions.

Conclusion: Optical coherence tomography angiography of subretinal fibrosis showed almost constantly a perfused, abnormal vascular network and collateral architectural changes in the outer retina and the choriocapillaris layer. These features were associated with both active and inactive fibrotic choroidal neovessels.