En-face analysis of short posterior ciliary arteries crossing the sclera to choroid using wide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography

To study the topographic distribution of the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCA) entry sites into the choroid in normal eyes using structural en-face swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Retrospective analysis of SS-OCT scans (wide-field structural SS-OCT 12 x 12 mm) of 13 healthy subjects was performed. Cross-sectional swept-source OCT scans derived from a volume scan were represented as en-face image display following the Choroid-Scleral Interface to obtain en-face OCT. SPCAs in their last scleral location before choroidal entrance were identified manually, counted and localized by two masked observers. Correlations between two masked observers were analyzed using inter- and intra-class correlation. Accuracy for the choroidal inner and outer border segmentation was 95-99%. Eighteen eyes from 13 normal subjects were included for SPCA analysis. The mean number of arteries was 13.8 +/- 3.5 per eye. Thirty-six percent were in the center of the posterior pole image; however, 21% were in the temporal part of the posterior pole. Median accuracy of the detection is 0.94. The correlation between the two observers was fair (0.54). Our algorithm allows visualization of the SPCA at the posterior pole of the eye using wide-field en-face SS-OCT. It can also help the clinicians to study the SPCAs in numerous ocular diseases, particularly its relationship with focal choroidal diseases.

Automated summary

This study utilized en-face swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) to analyze the distribution of short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCA) entry sites into the choroid in normal eyes. The mean number of arteries per eye was 13.8, with 36% located in the center of the posterior pole image and 21% in the temporal part. The correlation between two masked observers was fair (0.54), with an accuracy rate of 95-99% for choroidal border segmentation.