Wide-Field Swept-Source OCT and Angiography in X-Linked Retinoschisis

Abstract

Purpose: Retinal vascular and structural changes, particularly outside of the central macula, are not well characterized in X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). We aim to describe wide-field swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) and swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) findings in XLRS.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study at a tertiary referral center.

Participants: Nine consecutive male patients with molecularly confirmed XLRS.

Methods: All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination with multimodal imaging, including SS-OCT with SS-OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl-Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA). Images were then reviewed by 2 retinal specialists as independent graders to determine the frequency and distribution of retinal structural and vascular abnormalities.

Main outcome measures: Structural and vascular abnormalities seen on SS-OCT and SS-OCTA in patients with XLRS, with attention to the retinal layers involved, the regional distribution of schitic spaces in the posterior pole, and vascular abnormalities within the superficial and deep capillary plexuses.

Results: Eighteen eyes from 9 male patients (mean age, 20 years; range 9-40) with molecularly confirmed XLRS were included. Median best-corrected visual acuity measured 20/63 (range, 20/25-10/300). A total of 17 of 18 eyes (94.4%) were noted to have schitic spaces on SS-OCT, and these were observed to be predominantly within the inner nuclear layer in all 17 eyes. A regional variation in the distribution of cysts was noted, with schitic spaces within the ganglion cell layer (13/17 eyes; 76.5%) observed to be perifoveal and those within the outer nuclear layer (8/17 eyes, 47.1%) observed to be mostly extramacular. All eyes had vascular abnormalities on SS-OCTA, including an irregular foveal avascular zone and flow loss within the deep capillary plexus corresponding to the distribution of the schisis.

Conclusions: Wide-field SS-OCT and SS-OCTA provide detailed visualization of structural and vascular changes in XLRS and may be helpful for monitoring disease progression or treatment response in clinical trials for the disease.