En-face choroidal vascularity in central serous chorioretinopathy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the choroidal vascularity index of eyes for acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy patients using swept-source optical coherence tomography generated en-face scans. Methods: This was a retrospective study, in which slabs of en-face optical coherence tomography scans, at 5 μm intervals, spanning from the retina to choroid, were binarized using a validated algorithm to calculate choroidal vascularity index. The choroidal vascularity index was defined as the ratio between the choroidal vascular luminal area and the total choroidal area. Choroidal vascularity index was calculated for all the slabs of every subject in both the groups. Results: A total of 30 eyes for each acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy groups were recruited. The mean choroidal vascularity index of the acute group was 45.21% ± 2.25% at the choriocapillaris, which increased to the maximal value of 48.35% ± 2.06% at 75% depth of the choroidal thickness and 45.31% ± 3.27% at the choroidoscleral interface; whereas for the chronic group, the mean choroidal vascularity index was 44.76% ± 2.60% at the choriocapillaris, which maximized at 50% choroidal depth (48.70% ± 1.32%) and then returned to 45.41% ± 6.02% at the choroidoscleral interface. Conclusion: For both groups, the choroidal vascularity index increased from choriocapillaris to maximum values at mid-choroid and returned to almost the choriocapillaris value at the choroidoscleral interface.

Current Choroidal Imaging Findings in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

“…This shows similar trends in CVI increasing towards maximum at the mid choroid and similar values at different depths of the choroid in both acute and chronic CSCR. Choroidal status looks similar in both acute and chronic disease [ 66 ].…”

“…As described earlier, there is dilatation of Haller’s layer, which is the layer of outer large choroidal vessels, and attenuation of Sattler’s layer and the choriocapillaris in a diseased state. In a retrospective study of 30 eyes, Wong et al showed the mean CVI of eyes with acute disease was 45.21% ± 2.25% at the choriocapillaris, which increased to the maximal value of 48.35% ± 2.06% at 75% depth of the choroidal thickness and 45.31% ± 3.27% at the choroidoscleral interface [ 66 ]. In eyes with chronic disease, the mean CVI was 44.76% ± 2.60% at the choriocapillaris, which hit a maximum at 50% choroidal depth (48.70% ± 1.32%) and then returned to 45.41% ± 6.02% at the choroidoscleral interface.…”

“…In eyes with chronic disease, the mean CVI was 44.76% ± 2.60% at the choriocapillaris, which hit a maximum at 50% choroidal depth (48.70% ± 1.32%) and then returned to 45.41% ± 6.02% at the choroidoscleral interface. There was dilatation of the Haller’s layer in CSCSR, which is hypothesized to cause compression of the inner choroidal smaller vessels resulting in leakage and accumulation of serous fluid under the retina [ 66 ].…”

Classification of Pachychoroid on Optical Coherence Tomographic En Face Images Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks

“…Numerous studies have confirmed the peculiar morphology of the choroidal vasculature of pachychoroid eyes, especially based on en face OCT images. 1,4,6,[28][29][30] Ng et al 6 revealed that different exudative maculopathies show distinctive choroidal vasculature morphology and can be classified accordingly. Vascular density had a greater diffuse pattern of dilated vessels in pachychoroid eyes compared to nonpachychoroid AMD eyes in quantitative analysis.…”

“…Vascular density had a greater diffuse pattern of dilated vessels in pachychoroid eyes compared to nonpachychoroid AMD eyes in quantitative analysis. 4,30 These morphologic differences can serve as features that could distinguish pachychoroid from nonpachychoroid eyes for DCNNs.…”