Navigating the White Dot Syndromes with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and OCT Angiography (OCT-A)

Abstract

Introduction: White dot syndromes are a heterogeneous group of diseases that affect different layers in the retina and choroid. Multimodal imaging is fundamental in the diagnosis, but also can be crucial in unveiling the pathogenesis of these entities.

Material and methods: Literature review.

Results: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides depth-resolved, histological grade images of the vitreous, retina, and choroid. This technology is very useful to localize the primary nature and level of pathology of the various white dot syndromes. En face OCT can provide additional information regarding the interrelationship of lesion types. Vascular involvement at the level of the retina, choriocapillaris or choroid can be assessed by en face OCT angiography (OCT-A) and is not limited by masking, leakage or staining as can occur with conventional angiography (fluorescein or indocyanine green angiography) which requires dye injection.

Conclusion: OCT and OCTA are fundamental in the diagnosis and follow-up of white dots syndromes.

Keywords: OCT; OCTA; Uveitis; posterior uveitis; white dot syndromes.