ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHANGES IN MACULAR VASCULATURE IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY- AND FLUORESCEIN- ANGIOGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MACULAR PIGMENT IN TYPE 2 IDIOPATHIC MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA

Abstract

Purpose: We investigate the association between morphologic findings in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) as a new method offering the visualization of deeper layers of retinal vasculature and fluorescein angiography (FA) and macular pigment imaging and in Type 2 macular telangiectasia.

Methods: Fourty-two eyes of 21 patients with macular telangiectasia (38-68 years, 14 female) were examined by FA and OCTA and 24 eyes additionally with dual-wavelength autofluorescence. Early and late FA, macular pigment density images, and (after segmentation of retinal vasculature into superficial and deep capillary network and outer) OCTA images were graded into standardized categories. Agreement between the methods was evaluated statistically.

Results: In OCTA, a reduction of density of superficial capillaries, dilated vessels in the deep capillary network, anastomoses toward the superficial capillary network, and "new" vessels in the outer retina layers can be detected. The described anatomical features, especially in the deep capillary plexus and outer retina corresponded well with changes in FA. Classes of macular pigment distribution correlated most with classes of changes in OCTA superficial capillary plexus.

Conclusion: Progressive changes in macular telangiectasia apparent in FA and macular pigment imaging are most obvious in the deep capillary network and outer retina in OCTA. Optical coherence tomography angiography offers a noninvasive technology to analyze vascular changes in the retina and choroid of patients with macular telangiectasia.