Assessment of choroid thickness by swept‑source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in patients with posterior uveitis

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to measure the changes in choroid thickness using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) after treatment of posterior uveitis along with changes in fundus auto-fluorescence pattern. Material and methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted from December 2018 to May 2020, in which 32 eyes of 20 patients presenting in the out-patient department with a clinical diagnosis of posterior uveitis were enrolled. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by Snellen chart, intraocular pressure (IOP) Measurement using a non-contact tonometer, choroidal thickness by SS-OCT, and fundus imaging by Fundus Autofluorescence was done. All tests were done at baseline, first follow-up of 2 ± 1 weeks and the second follow-up of 6 ± 2 weeks. Data was compiled and analyzed. Results: The mean age of patients was 31 ± 6.9 years with M:F of 3:1. During the second follow-up, with the healing of the lesions, there was a significant reduction in the choroidal thickness at all levels by SS-OCT (p < 0.05), with significant improvement in BCVA (0.05 vs. 0.14 vs. 0.31, p < 0.05). IOP increased significantly at the first follow-up to 17.31 from baseline (16.25) (p = 0.032). However, the rise at the second follow-up was not significant (17.03 vs. 16.25 at baseline, p = 0.15). On fundus autofluorescence, normal autofluorescence and hypofluorescence increased at the second follow-up of 6 weeks (p < 0.0001) Conclusion: SS-OCT showed a significant decrease in the choroidal thickness at all levels during the follow-ups. The healing of the posterior uveitis lesions and fundus autofluorescence became normal simultaneously.