Confocal Scanning Laser Tomography Analysis of Choroidal Neovascularization and Correlation with Quantitative Fluorescein Angiography

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the agreement between confocal scanning laser tomography and quantitative fluorescein angiography in the analysis of retinal-thickness changes in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods: The edema index of a cSLT was measured in 18 eyes of 16 patients with CNV secondary to AMD that underwent photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne. Measurements were taken 1 hour before as well as 1 hour, 1 month, and 3 months after therapy. Moreover, a custom-written algorithm was used to analyze the integrated contrast amplitude (ICA) of fluorescein angiograms acquired before as well as 1 month and 3 months after PDT. Confocal scanning laser analysis of the edema index (EI) before and after PDT and correlation of the results with quantitative fluorescein angiography was performed. Results: A statistical significant increase of the EI was observed 1 hour after PDT. Nonetheless, no other statistical significant change over time was observed either on the EI or the ICA. Significant correlation was observed between the EI and the ICA as well as their changes over time, yet better results were observed when non-parametric correlation was calculated.Conclusions: The axial intensity profile of the cSLT and the edema index provide important information with respect to the neovascular membranes and correlate well with quantitative fluorescein angiography. The application of cSLT and the EI provide an important tool that could complement the investigation of new treatments of neovascular membranes.