Inner Retinal Layer Thickness Alterations in Early Age Related Macular Degeneration in Eyes with Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits or Conventional Drusen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate central and parafoveal inner retinal layer thickness in patients with subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) or conventional drusen (CD). Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmoscopic examination. Evidence of SDD or CD was evaluated with near infrared reflectance and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Quantification of subfoveal lesions was made through a qualitative analysis of vertical and horizontal SD-OCT scans centered on the fovea. Inner retinal layer macular thickness measurements were obtained for central circles with 1, 3, and 5 mm diameter. Continuous variables were compared by the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with post-hoc Tukey HSD correction for multiple comparison analysis. Fifty-five patients were included in the study; 18 eyes with SDD alone, 19 eyes with CD alone, and 18 eyes of healthy age-matched subjects. Eight eyes with SDD (44%) and 13 eyes with CD (68%) had subfoveal lesions. There was significant reduction in the inner retinal layer thickness in the central 1mm area and in the superior 3 mm area in the SDD and CD group compared to controls. In conclusion the inner retinal layer is thinner in the central macula and in the superior parafovea in eyes.

Inner Retinal Thickness and Vasculature in Patients with Reticular Pseudodrusen

“…For instance, Ahn et al [19] noted that the mean retinal thickness in eyes with RPD was not significantly different compared to those with AMD; however, their group did not look at specific retinal layers. Abdolrahimzadeh et al [8] found that the central macula and superior parafoveal area were thinner in eyes with both early/iAMD and RPD compared to age-matched control eyes. In the present study, results showed that the superior 3 mm of the macula was significantly thinner in eyes with both RPD and iAMD compared to eyes with iAMD alone, and INL significantly contributed to its thinning.…”

“…RPD appeared to be easily visualized with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope [12]. Histologically, the term subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), which has also been used as RPD, are found in the subretinal space above the RPE and have a pathology distinct from other drusen types [3, 8]. RPD are ultrastructurally similar but biochemically different from soft drusen [13].…”

“…Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic and progressive degenerative retinal disease and is one of the most common causes of blindness in the developed world in those over 55 years [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Its hallmark, drusen, appears as yellowish-whitish deposits from lipofuscin accumulation with photoreceptor debris and lipoglycoproteinaceous debris between the basal lamina of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the inner collagenous layer of Bruch's membrane [7][8][9][10]. A classification of AMD based on clinical appearance, including drusen, has been established [5].…”

Research Advances in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…The role of inner retinal alterations in AMD was also highlighted by Abdolrahimzadeh et al [5]. An important phenotype in AMD is subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) that are located in the subretinal space above the retinal pigment epithelium in contrast to drusen that are localized below the retinal pigment epithelium [6].…”

The Role of Alpha-Synuclein Deposits in Parkinson’s Disease: A Focus on the Human Retina

“…SD-OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides high-resolution retinal and choroidal scans, enabling an accurate study of the qualitative and quantitative features of the inner and external retinal layers and the choroid. This method is routinely used in the field of ophthalmology in pathologies such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy [20,21] and in rare retinal diseases with a neurological component [22][23][24]. If α-syn accumulates in the retina from the early stages of PD and is possibly detected with imaging techniques, then SD-OCT could be used to identify potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of PD.…”