Evaluation of Capillary Network Abnormalities in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

Objectives: Is to detect the vascular morphological changes in the two intra retinal; layers superficial network layer and deep network layer by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in cases with acute onset branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Study Design: An observational cross-sectional study in new Kafer El-Sheikh Ophthalmology Hospital. Population: This study included ten patients with (BRVO) of recent onset within the last three months. Methods: Demographic data such as age, gender, sex and hypertensive history were obtained. A detailed evaluation of cases including complete anterior segment evaluation and posterior segment evaluation was done. OCT-A and fluorescein angiography (FA) were used to study the vascular morphological changes in the (BRVO) area. Results: As regarding 5 disc area of retinal ischemia FA detected ischemia in 2 cases (20%), detected no ischemia in one case (10%) and was not able to evaluate ischemia in 7 cases (70%) compared to OCT-A, that detected the ischemia in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP)in 4 cases (40%), and detected no ischemia in 6 cases (60%), but it detected the ischemia in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) in 6 cases (60%) and detected no ischemia in 4 cases (40%). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that OCT-A was superior to FA in detection of macular ischemia in cases with acute onset branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), macular ischemia detected in the DCP by OCT- A had stronger negative relation with V.A. than that of SCP. By OCT-A macular edema (ME) was present mainly in the DCP compared to SCP.