Dataset Information

Macular Microvasculature and Associated Retinal Layer Thickness in Pediatric Amblyopia: Magnification-Corrected Analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to characterize macular microvasculature and structural retinal layers using magnification-corrected optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images in children with amblyopia.

Methods

This prospective cross-sectional study included 22 children with unilateral amblyopia (4-11 years of age) receiving spectral-domain OCTA. Vessel densities in foveal and parafoveal regions of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were measured in amblyopic and fellow eyes using a customized image analysis program correcting the scale of retinal image with axial length. Iowa Reference Algorithms (Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging) were used to measure mean thickness values of 10 intra-retinal layers rescaled for image size correction.

Results

Foveal and parafoveal vessel densities in amblyopic eyes were lower than that of the fellow eyes in the SCP (fovea: P = 0.006 and parafovea: P = 0.003) and the DCP (P = 0.024 and P = 0.025, respectively). Amblyopic eyes had significantly smaller foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area than fellow eyes (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in retinal layer thickness between paired eyes, particularly in the inner retina in both foveal and parafoveal regions; retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) (P = 0.024 and P = 0.095, respectively), ganglion cell layer (P < 0.001 and P = 0.008), inner plexiform layer (IPL; P = 0.12 and P = 0.037), inner nuclear layer (P = 0.005 and P = 0.005), and outer plexiform layer (OPL; P = 0.02 and P = 0.057), except in the foveal IPL, the parafoveal RNFL, and OPL.

Conclusions

Unilateral amblyopic eyes demonstrate reduced macular vessel density and thicker inner retinal layers compared with fellow eyes even after correcting for image magnification. Changes in macular microvasculature and structural layers may offer valuable insights in the development of amblyopia.

SUBMITTER: Nishikawa N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8010361 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:PurposeTo examine the distribution of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters, with and without correction for lateral magnification, in a large cohort of healthy young adults.DesignCross-sectional, observational cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 504 healthy adults, 27 to 30 years of age.MethodsParticipants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination including axial length measurement and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging of the macula. OCT angiography images of combined superficial and deep retinal vessel plexuses were processed via a custom software to extract foveal avascular zone area (FAZA) and foveal density-300 (FD-300), the vessel density in a 300-μm wide annulus surrounding the FAZ, with and without correction for lateral magnification. Bland-Altman analyses were performed to examine the effect of lateral magnification on FAZA and FD-300, as well as to evaluate the interocular agreement in both parameters. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the relationship between retinal thicknesses and OCTA parameters.Main outcome measuresThe FAZA and FD-300, corrected for lateral magnification.ResultsThe mean (standard deviation [SD]) of laterally corrected FAZA and FD-300 was 0.22 mm2 (0.10 mm2) and 51.9% (3.2%), respectively. Relative to uncorrected data, 55.6% of corrected FAZA showed a relative change > 5%, whereas all FD-300 changes were within 5%. There was good interocular symmetry (mean right eye-left eye difference, 95% limits of agreement [LoA]) in both FAZA (0.006 mm2, -0.05 mm2, to 0.07 mm2) and FD-300 (-0.05%, -5.39%, to 5.30%). There were significant negative associations between central retinal thickness and FAZA (β = -0.0029), as well as between central retinal thickness and FD-300 (β = -0.044), with the relationships driven by inner, not outer, retina.ConclusionsWe reported lateral magnification adjusted normative values for FAZA and FD-300 in a large cohort of young, healthy eyes. Clinicians should strongly consider accounting for lateral magnification when evaluating FAZA. Good interocular agreement in FAZA and FD-300 suggests the contralateral eye can be used as control data.

Project description:PurposeFor OCT retinal thickness measurements to be used as a prodromal age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk marker, the 3-dimensional (3D) topographic variation of the relationship between genetic susceptibility to AMD and retinal thickness needs to be assessed. We aimed to evaluate individual retinal layer thickness changes and topography at the macula that are associated with AMD genetic susceptibility.DesignGenetic association study.ParticipantsA total of 1579 healthy participants (782 Chinese, 353 Malays, and 444 Indians) from the multiethnic Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study were included.MethodsSpectral-domain OCT and automatic segmentation of individual retinal layers were performed to produce 10 retinal layer thickness measurements at each ETDRS subfield, producing 3D topographic information. Age-related macular degeneration genetic susceptibility was represented via single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and aggregated via whole genome (overall) and pathway-specific age-related macular degeneration polygenic risk score (PRSAMD).Main outcome measuresAssociations of individual SNPs, overall PRSAMD, and pathway-specific PRSAMD with retinal thickness were analyzed by individual retinal layer and ETDRS subfield.ResultsCFH rs10922109, ARMS2-HTRA1 rs3750846, and LIPC rs2043085 were the top AMD susceptibility SNPs associated with retinal thickness of individual layers (P < 1.67 × 10-3), all at the central subfield. The overall PRSAMD was most associated with thinner L9 (outer segment photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelium complex) thickness at the central subfield (β = -0.63 μm; P = 5.45 × 10-9). Pathway-specific PRSAMD for the complement cascade (β = -0.53 μm; P = 9.42 × 10-7) and lipoprotein metabolism (β = -0.05 μm; P = 0.0061) were associated with thinner photoreceptor layers (L9 and L7 [photoreceptor inner/outer segments], respectively) at the central subfield. The mean PRSAMD score was larger among Indians compared with that of the Chinese and had the thinnest thickness at the L9 central subfield (β = -1.00 μm; P = 2.91 × 10-7; R2 = 5.5%). Associations at other retinal layers and ETDRS regions were more heterogeneous.ConclusionsOverall genetic susceptibility to AMD and the aggregate effects of the complement cascade and lipoprotein metabolism pathway are associated most significantly with L7 and L9 photoreceptor thinning at the central macula in healthy individuals. Photoreceptor thinning has potential to be a prodromal AMD risk marker, and topographic variation should be considered.Financial disclosuresProprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.