Appearance of Far Peripheral Retina in Normal Eyes by Ultra-widefield Fluorescein Angiography

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the appearance of the far peripheral retina of normal eyes using ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: This study enrolled 101 eyes with best-corrected visual acuity ≥20/20, with refractive error <3.00 diopters, and without visible retinal pathologic changes under a slit lamp-based condensing lens. The far peripheral retina was detected by UWFA. Ciliary body thickness (CBT) at 3 mm (CBT1) and 2 mm (CBT2) posterior to the scleral spur was measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Results: In the far peripheral retina, granular background fluorescence (GB) appeared in all eyes (100%), a mottled fluorescent band (MB) appeared in 44 eyes (43.6%), and retinal vascular leakage (VL) appeared in 20 eyes (19.8%). According to peripheral angiographic findings, the eyes were allocated into 3 groups: Group 1 (MB- and VL-), Group 2 (MB+ and VL-), and Group 3 (MB-/+ and VL+). Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed ciliary body edema and exudates in Group 3. The mean CBT1 (mm) and CBT2 (mm) of Group 3 were greater than those of Group 1 and Group 2 (0.315 ± 0.037 vs 0.240 ± 0.019 vs 0.251 ± 0.030; 0.571 ± 0.084 vs 0.375 ± 0.051 vs 0.410 ± 0.050, P < .001 for both CBT1 and CBT2). The mean CBT1 and CBT2 showed no difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = .575 for CBT1; P = .150 for CBT2).

Conclusions: Normal peripheral retinas generally show granular background fluorescence, with or without a mottled fluorescent band.