ULTRA-WIDEFIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN MILD FAMILIAL EXUDATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY

Purpose:To investigate ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF-OCTA) to detect and evaluate mild familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and compare the detective ratio of UWF-OCTA with ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography.Methods:The patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy were included in this study. UWF-OCTA, using a 24- x 20-mm montage, was performed for all patients. All images were independently tested for the presence of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy-associated lesions. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS V.24.0.Results:Forty-six eyes of 26 participants were included in the study. Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography was found to be greatly superior to ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in detecting peripheral retinal vascular abnormality (P < 0.001) and peripheral retinal avascular zone (P < 0.001). The detection rates of peripheral retinal vascular abnormality, peripheral retinal avascular zone, retinal neovascularization, macular ectopia, and temporal midperipheral vitreoretinal interface abnormality were comparable with ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography images (P > 0.05). Furthermore, vitreoretinal traction (17/46, 37%) and small foveal avascular zone (17/46, 37%) were detected effectively on UWF-OCTA.Conclusion:Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography is a reliable noninvasive tool to detect familial exudative vitreoretinopathy lesions, especially in mild patients or asymptomatic family members. The unique manifestation of UWF-OCTA offers an alternative to ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography for the screening and diagnosis of FEVR.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF-OCTA) for detecting and evaluating mild familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and to compare its detection ratio with ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography. The results showed that UWF-OCTA was significantly superior to ultra-widefield scanning laser ophthalmoscopy in detecting peripheral retinal vascular abnormality and peripheral retinal avascular zone. The detection rates of various lesions were comparable to ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography. Additionally, UWF-OCTA effectively detected vitreoretinal traction and small foveal avascular zone.