Correlation between Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness and Disease Activity in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe irreversible visual impairment worldwide. The disease has a deep impact on the quality of life of affected person and represents a major socioeconomic challenge. Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a rapidly progressing disease which impacts central vision. It is responsible for 90% of cases of AMD associated severe vision loss. Choroidal thicknening is hypothesized to occur in the active phase of neovascular AMD. On the other hand, multiple studies reported progressive choroidal thinning in nAMD. Aim to study the correlation between choroidal thickness, and the activity of choroidal neovascularization in cases of neovascular (wet) Age related macular degeneration using Spectral domain Ocular coherence tomography. Methodology Our study included 33 eyes of 30 participants subdivided into neovascular AMD group (23 eyes of 20 patients), and age matched control group (10 eyes of 10 participants). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Avanti RTVue XR AngioVue OCT (Optovue Inc, Fremont, USA) was used to measure central foveal thickness (CFT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) after conduction of complete ocular examination and history taking. Results Our study shows a significant decrease in subfoveal choroidal thickness in neovascular AMD group (157.82 + 68.67 µm) when compared to the age matched control group (266.9+ 48.37 µm) with (P value <0.001). But, we found no clinically significant difference in SFCT between active CNV (179.23 + 64.36 µm) and inactive CNV groups (136.4 + 72.97 µm) (P value = 0.19). Conclusion there is a significant thinning of choroid in nAMD in comparison to control. But no statistically significant difference in SFCT between active and inactive choroidal neovascular groups.