Abstract
Optical coherence tomography angiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that now allows for simultaneous in vivo imaging of the morphology as well as the vasculature in the eye. In this review, we provide an update on the existing clinical applications of optical coherence tomography angiography technology from the anterior to posterior segment of the eye. We also discuss the limitations of optical coherence tomography angiography technology, as well as the caveats to the interpretation of images. As current optical coherence tomography angiography systems are optimized for the retina, most studies have focused on interpreting images from conditions such as age related macular degeneration and retinal vascular diseases. However, the interpretation of these optical coherence tomography angiography images should be taken in consideration with other multi-modal imaging to overcome the limitations of each technique. In addition, there are a growing variety of clinical applications for optical coherence tomography angiography imaging in optic nerve head evaluation for glaucoma and optic neuropathies. Further developments in anterior optical coherence tomography angiography have now allowed for evaluation of anterior segment pathology such as glaucoma, ocular surface diseases, corneal vascularisation, and abnormal iris vasculature. Future developments in software could allow for improved segmentation and image resolution with automated measurements and analysis.
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Dr. Gemmy Cheung serves on the speaker bureaus for Topcon and Zeiss. Dr. Pearse Keane has received speaker fees from Heidelberg Engineering, Topcon, Zeiss, Haag-Streit, Allergan, Novartis, and Bayer. He has served on advisory boards for Novartis and Bayer, and is an external consultant for DeepMind and Optos. Dr. Marcus Ang is a speaker for Zeiss, Nidek, Allergan, Santen and Johnson & Johnson Vision.
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Supplementary Fig. 1
Wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography images of a case of ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion showed areas of flow signal voids superior temporal to the macula corresponding to areas of ischemia. The image was obtained with full-retina segmentation and a montage of multiple smaller-field en face optical coherence tomography angiography images to create a wide-field image without sacrificing resolution and detail. The foveal avascular zone in this case was not enlarged and did not show any macular ischemia. (GIF 235 kb)
Supplementary Fig. 2
Cross-sectional (bottom left) and en face optical coherence tomography (top left) of an eye with macular telangiectasia type 2 showing the presence of intra-retina cystic changes. En face (top right) and cross-sectional optical coherence tomography angiography (bottom right) showing stellate arrangement of perifoveal telangectatic vessels temporal to the fovea that may be due to contraction of the tissue due to degenerative changes. (GIF 421 kb)
Supplementary Fig. 3
Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) (top left), structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) image (bottom left), en face (top right) and cross-sectional OCT angiography (OCTA) images of eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Polyps (yellow circle) showing hyperreflectivity within a peaked pigment epithelial detachment (PED) with a corresponding focal abnormal flow signal seen on cross-sectional OCTA, on ICGA the polyps show extensive hypercyanescence but have only the patchy corresponding high flow signals on en face OCTA. The adjacent branching vascular network (blue arrows) is seen as a shallow, irregular PED with abnormal flow signal on cross-sectional OCTA and a corresponding high flow network of vessels seen on en face OCTA similar to the appearance on ICGA. (GIF 238 kb)
Supplementary Fig. 4
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images of secondary causes of neovascularization (NV). Left column: Type 1 NV related to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, seen on cross-sectional OCTA (bottom row) as flow signal within a shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachment, with a thick choroid, and corresponding abnormal flow signal seen on en face OCTA (top row) with projection artifact removed, and imaged on a depth color encoded en face OCTA image with the NV seen in blue (middle row). Middle column: Myopic NV seen as an abnormal flow signal on cross-sectional OCTA (bottom row), with a corresponding abnormal flow signal on en face OCTA (top row) with the projection artifact removed and depth color encoded en face OCTA with the NV appearing blue-green. Right column: Type 2 NV secondary to inflammatory diseases seen as abnormal flow signal in areas of subretinal hyperreflective material on cross-sectional OCTA (bottom row), and a corresponding flow signal on a 6 × 6 mm en face OCTA image (top row) showing a larger imaged area with less detail while a magnified view of the NV on a 3x3 mm en face OCTA image (middle row) showed greater detail of the NV. (GIF 1127 kb)
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Ang, M., Tan, A.C.S., Cheung, C.M.G. et al. Optical coherence tomography angiography: a review of current and future clinical applications. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 256, 237–245 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-017-3896-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-017-3896-2