Reticular Pseudodrusen Group Research Articles

Identification of retinal thickness and blood flow in age-related macular degeneration with reticular pseudodrusen.

To investigate thickness characteristics and vascular plexuses in retinas with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) as an early detection strategy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This retrospective study included 24 subjects (33 eyes) with RPD and 25 heathy control subjects (34 eyes). The superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP) of the retinal posterior poles were investigated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Retinal thicknesses and vessel densities were analyzed statistically. The general retinal thicknesses of RPD eyes were significantly decreased (95%CI -14.080, -0.655; P=0.032). The vessel densities of DCP in RPD eyes were significantly increased in the global (95%CI 1.067, 7.312; P=0.027), parafoveal (95%CI 0.417, 5.241; P=0.022), and perifoveal (95%CI 0.181, 6.842; P=0.039) quadrants. However, the vessel densities of the SCP were rarely increased in the eyes with RPD. The thinning of retinas in the RPD group suggests a reduction in the number of cells. Additionally, the increased vessel density of the DCP in retinas with RPD indicates a greater demand for blood supply, possibly due to the hypoxia induced RPD compensation caused by RPD in the outer retina. This study highlights the pathological risks associated with RPD and emphasizes the importance of early intervention to retard the progression of AMD.

LOW-DOSE SUPPLEMENTATION WITH RETINOL IMPROVES RETINAL FUNCTION IN EYES WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION BUT WITHOUT RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN.

The aim of this study was to determine the functional impact of oral vitamin A supplementation in patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration with and without reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) demonstrating dysfunction in dark adaptation. Five patients with intermediate age-related macular degeneration and without RPD (AMD group; mean ± SD age 78.0 ± 4.7 years) and seven with RPD (RPD group; age 74.1 ± 11.2 years) were supplemented with 16,000 IU of vitamin A palmitate for 8 weeks. Assessment at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks included scotopic thresholds, dark adaptation, best-corrected and low luminance visual acuities, and the low-luminance quality of life questionnaire. In the linear mixed model, rod intercept time improved significantly in the AMD group (mean [95% CI] change -1.1 minutes [-1.8; -0.5] after 4 weeks ( P < 0.001) and -2.2 min [-2.9 to -1.6] after 8 weeks of vitamin A supplementation ( P < 0.001). The dark adaptation cone plateau also significantly improved (i.e., more sensitive cone threshold) at 4 and 8 weeks ( P = 0.026 and P = 0.001). No other parameters improved in the AMD group, and there was no significant improvement in any parameter in the RPD group despite significantly elevated serum vitamin A levels measurable in both groups after supplementation ( P = 0.024 and P = 0.013). Supplementation with 16,000 IU vitamin A, a lower dose than used in previous studies, partially overcomes the pathophysiologic functional changes in AMD eyes. The lack of improvement in the RPD group may indicate structural impediments to increasing vitamin A availability in these patients and/or may reflect the higher variability observed in the functional parameters for this group.

Gender as an effect modifier in the relationship between hypertension and reticular pseudodrusen in patients with early or intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

To determine whether the prevalence of treated hypertension is higher among males or females with early/intermediate (e/i) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with and without bilateral reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). Retrospective review of the records of patients with e/iAMD who were recruited into the University of Colorado AMD registry between July 2014 and November 2019. Images were classified using the Beckman Initiative criteria and presence/absence of RPD. Patients were categorized into three groups: 1) e/iAMD with RPD; 2) e/iAMD without RPD; 3) control patients who did not have AMD. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used for adjusted analysis with odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI). There were 260 patients with e/iAMD of which 101 had bilateral RPD and 159 had no RPD, and 221 controls. Overall, 62% of patients were female and the three groups did not differ by gender. When stratified by gender, the female e/iAMD/RPD group had a higher prevalence of hypertension, 64.1% vs 45.2% for controls, OR=2.2 (95%CI: 1.2-4.0). The frequency of hypertension in the e/iAMD/no RPD group was 54.1% and did not significantly differ from the control group. Among males, prevalence rates of treated hypertension did not differ. There is a significant interaction of hypertension and gender for the e/iAMD/RPD group such that women with e/iAMD who had RPD were significantly more likely to have hypertension (P=0.042). This relationship was not significant in the e/iAMD/no RPD group (P=0.269). Among females treated hypertension is significantly higher among e/iAMD/RPD patients, whereas for males there is no significant association.

Choroidal vascularity index in leptochoroid: A comparative analysis between reticular pseudodrusen and high myopia.

To investigate the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in patients affected by leptochoroid. Three distinct age-matched cohorts were collected: patients with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) secondary to age-related macular degeneration, patients with high-myopia, and healthy controls. CVI was calculated in the subfoveal 6000 μm diameter area. 54 eyes (54 patients) were included (18 eyes in each cohort). No statistical differences were disclosed in terms of age between controls, RPD patients (p = 0.062), and myopic patients (p = 0.070). Total choroidal area showed a different distribution among the 3 cohorts (p < 0.001), due to the reduction of luminal and stromal choroidal area in both RPD and myopic groups in comparison to controls (p < 0.001). Interestingly, CVI showed a different distribution between the 3 cohorts (p < 0.001). In detail, RPD group showed no changes in CVI in comparison to controls (p = 1.000), whereas the myopic group showed a higher CVI in comparison to both RPD group and controls (p < 0.001 in both analyses). Different changes of the choroidal vascular and stromal components characterize the leptochoroid secondary to RPD eyes and high-myopic eyes. The relative greater impairment of the vascular area in RPD eyes in comparison to myopic eyes could be at the basis of the lower development of RPD in patients with high myopia.

Vascular and structural alterations of the choroid evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography and enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen and soft drusen

BackgroundTo assess the vascularity of choriocapillaris and structural choroidal differences in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and soft drusen. Methods21 eyes with RPD (group 1), 17 eyes with soft drusen (group 2), and 19 eyes as a control group (group 3) were included in this study. Choriocapillaris vascular density and flow area were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography. Total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and lumen/stroma ratios were measured on optical coherence tomography B-scans converted to binary images. ResultsMean choriocapillaris vascular density was higher in group 3 than other groups (group 1 vs 3, p = 0.001; group 2 vs 3, p = 0.003). Mean flow area in choriocapillaris was higher in group 3 than other groups (group 1 vs 3, p = 0.001; group 2 vs 3, p = 0.001). Mean luminal, stromal, and total choroidal areas decreased in group 1 and group 2 compared to controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The stroma ratio decreased in group 1 compared to group 3 (p = 0.013). The lumen ratio and lumen/stroma ratio increased in group 1 compared to group 3 (p = 0.012 and p = 0.008, respectively). ConclusionsThe choroid of eyes with RPD and soft drusen was affected in both choriocapillaris and whole choroid layer.

The role of quantitative deep capillary plexus in the pathogenesis of type 3 macular neovascularization: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

PurposeTo quantitatively investigate the role of deep capillary plexus (DCP) in patients affected by type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV), compared to patients with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) eyes and healthy controls, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsIn this prospective observational study, a total of seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients were included. Group 1 consisted of 40 eyes of 40 patients with stage 1 of type 3 MNV (22 males, 18 females, mean age 73.7, SD ± 6.60) and group 2 included 38 eyes of 38 patients with RPD (17 males, 21 females, mean age 73.2, SD ± 4.55). The control group included 40 eyes of 40 healthy subjects (20 males, 20 females, mean age 71.4, SD ± 6.36 years). We evaluated the retinal vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) using OCTA.ResultsPatients with diagnosis of type 3 MNV showed statistically lower values of VD in DCP with respect to controls and to RPD group (p < 0.001), while there were no statistical differences between RPD and control group in macular region. No significant differences in VD of SCP were detected among the three study groups.ConclusionOCTA provides a reproducible, non-invasive detailed quantitative analysis of retinal vascular features and changing in early-stage type 3 MNV patients, which allowed to shed the light on the main role of DCP ischemia in the development of type 3 MNV.

The role of optical coherence tomography angiography in reticular pseudodrusen.

To investigate the changes in retinal and choriocapillaris vessel density (VD) in patients effected by early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and reticular pseudodrusen (RPD), using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). A total of seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients (43 male, 35 female, mean age 72.61 ± 5.15) with non-neovascular AMD (38 eyes with early AMD and 40 eyes with RPD) was recruited in this observational prospective study. Forty eyes of 40 healthy subjects represented the control group. The VD was measured in superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris in different macular regions. There were no significant differences in VD of the SCP and DCP among the controls and the two study groups (p > 0.05). The VD of the choriocapillaris revealed a statistically significant reduction in early AMD and RPD groups respect to controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the patients with RPD showed a significantly decreased VD respect to patients with early AMD in different macular regions (p < 0.001). The quantitative analysis of retinal and choriocapillaris blood flow by OCTA provided useful information regarding the vascular changes in non-neovascular AMD patients suggesting that the choriocapillaris loss is mainly involved in the pathogenesis of RPD.

Haller's vessels patterns in non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

To investigate the optical coherence tomography (OCT) en face reconstruction of the choroid in different phenotypes of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), to identify the relative distribution of the vascular patterns of the Haller's layer in each AMD category. Retrospective study enrolling consecutive patients with non-neovascular AMD. Patients were divided into the following: (1) those with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD); (2) those with small (< 63μm) or medium-large drusen (63-124μm); (3) those with geographic atrophy (GA). Qualitative analysis of the en face images provided by CIRRUS HD-OCT 5000 (Carl Zeiss Meditech, Inc., Dublin, USA) was performed, identifying five arrangements of Haller's vessels: temporal herringbone, branched from below, laterally diagonal, double arcuate, and reticular. Choroidal thickness (CT) was measured from structural OCT. Healthy age-matched subjects were included as a control group. Fifty-eight eyes of 58 patients (20 eyes with RPD; 22 eyes with drusen; 16 eyes with GA) and 18 control eyes were enrolled. The laterally diagonal configuration was the most prevalent (40.0%) in the RPD group; the reticular pattern was the most frequent in the drusen group (50.0%); the double arcuate (62.5%) was the most recurrent pattern in patients with GA. In the control group, the temporal herringbone (38.9%) arrangement was the most represented. The CT associated with the temporal herringbone and reticular arrangement was significantly higher compared to the branched from below (p < 0.001), the laterally diagonal (p = 0.014), and the double arcuate pattern (p = 0.009). Different phenotypes of non-neovascular AMD present a specific distribution of vascular arrangement on en face OCT. The temporal herringbone and the reticular pattern (the ones more associated in a physiological setting) disclosed a thicker choroid compared to the arrangements more represented in non-neovascular AMD-correlated phenotypes.

RETINAL ARTERIAL DILATION IS IMPAIRED IN EYES WITH DRUSEN AND RETICULAR PSEUDODRUSEN.

To analyze static characteristics and dynamic functionality of retinal vessels in eyes with drusen and reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) using dynamic vessel analyzer. Patients with clinical diagnosis of isolated RPD or medium-large drusen and healthy controls were enrolled in the study between July 2016 and May 2018. Participants underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, including enhanced depth imaging structural optical coherence tomography, dynamic retinal vessel analysis, and static retinal vessel analysis. Twenty-eight eyes of 23 patients with drusen (9 men, mean age 77 ± 6 years), 22 eyes of 16 patients with RPD (7 men, mean age: 76 ± 6 years), and 22 eyes of 22 control subjects (11 men, mean age of 75 ± 6 years) were enrolled. Static retinal vessel analysis did not show any significant difference between the three groups for the central retinal artery equivalent (P = 0.11), the central retinal vein equivalent (P = 0.27), and the arteriovenous ratio (P = 0.30). Dynamic vessel analysis showed significantly reduced arterial dilation in eyes with drusen (P = 0.0001) and RPD (P = 0.015) compared with control subjects. No significant difference was seen between drusen and RPD groups (P = 0.32). Dynamic vessel analysis of retinal veins showed no differences between the three groups (P = 0.10). Dynamic vessel analysis in eyes with drusen and RPD revealed an impaired retinal arterial dilation in response to flicker light stimulation, which further supports the relationship between cardiovascular risk and age-related macular degeneration.

Longitudinal Assessment of Rod Function in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration With and Without Reticular Pseudodrusen.

To evaluate rod function longitudinally in intermediate age-related macular degeneration subjects with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and without RPD (AMD). Retinal sensitivities (505 and 625 nm) during dark adaptation, at 14 locations within the central 12° macula were obtained after photobleaching at baseline and 12-month visits. Pointwise sensitivity differences between both stimuli were used to assess static rod function, while rod intercept time (RIT) and rod recovery rate (RRR) were used to evaluate dynamic function. Changes in function over time were compared between groups. A total of 23 controls, 12 AMD, and 13 RPD cases were followed-up. At baseline, the RPD group had significantly worst static and dynamic rod function compared to AMD and control groups. Static function in AMD was similar to controls. Static and dynamic function across the central 12° was consistent in controls; however, it was most impaired at 4° compared to 12° eccentricity in disease groups. Over 12 months, no AMD cases progressed clinically and static function in AMD improved (P ≤ 0.04), but remained unchanged in control and RPD groups (P ≥ 0.17). The RRR for control and RPD groups remained stable, while the AMD group deteriorated, but only at 12° (P = 0.02). The RIT was stable in AMD (P = 0.75) and RPD (P = 0.71) groups but improved in the control group (P = 0.002). A decrease in RRR was detected over 12 months at 12° eccentricity in the AMD group. Evaluating changes in rod function requires testing at multiple locations including the peripheral macula.

Retinal vascular flow and choroidal thickness in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration with reticular pseudodrusen

BackgroundTo investigate the characteristics of retinal vessels and retinal thickness in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with or without reticular pseudodrusen.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the clinical history and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography images of consecutive patients with early AMD. We calculated the retinal vessel densities of the superficial and deep capillary plexus with the ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) and investigated the relationship with mean retinal thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness.ResultsWe included 135 early AMD eyes and classified 60 of them into a reticular pseudodrusen group and 75 into a non-reticular pseudodrusen group. The vascular densities of the superficial and deep capillary plexus in the reticular pseudodrusen group (32.35% ± 3.67 and 26.71% ± 2.88%) were not different from those of the non-reticular pseudodrusen group (33.18% ± 2.2% and % 27.43 ± 1.79%; P = 0.546 and P = 0.318, respectively). The retinal thickness of the reticular pseudodrusen group (287.31 μm ± 24.36 μm) did not differ from that of the non-reticular pseudodrusen group (294.27 μm ± 20.71 μm; P = 0.493), while subfoveal choroidal thickness in the reticular pseudodrusen group (158.13 μm ± 42.53 μm) was lower than that in the non-reticular pseudodrusen group (237.89 μm ± 60.94 μm; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that lower vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus and subfoveal choroidal thickness were associated with retinal thinning in reticular pseudodrusen group (P = 0.003 and P = 0.036) and older age was associated with retinal thickness in the non-reticular pseudodrusen group (P = 0.005).ConclusionsRetinal thinning in early AMD patients with reticular pseudodrusen was accompanied by choroidal and retinal vascular loss, which suggests a possible linkage of retinal thinning with vascular alterations.

Relationship between reticular pseudodrusen and choroidal thickness in intermediate age-related macular degeneration.

Reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) is strongly associated with late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) but their aetiology remains unknown. RPD have been associated with reduced choroidal thickness (ChT) but most studies are limited by small sample size and varying severity of AMD. To investigate the relationship between choroidal thickness and RPD in eyes with intermediate AMD (iAMD), controlling for variables known to influence ChT. Retrospective cohort study. Participants were recruited from Centre for Eye Research Australia. Colour fundus photographs, fundus auto fluorescence, near-infrared and spectral-domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT) were graded for RPD. ChT was measured from enhanced-depth imaging OCT scans at the centre of fovea, 1500 and 3000 μm nasal, temporal, superior and inferior from centre of fovea. ChT between RPD and non-RPD group. A total of 297 eyes from 152 subjects were included. A total of 84 (28%) had RPD and were older than non-RPD group (75.1 ± 5.4 years and 68.7 ± 6.9 years, respectively; P < 0.001). In unadjusted analysis, the RPD group was significantly associated with thinner choroids across all measured locations (P ≤ 0.022). After adjustment for variables, the presence of RPD was no longer associated with ChT (P ≥ 0.132 for all locations) but age (P < 0.001) and refractive error (P = 0.002) remained significantly associated with ChT. Age and refractive error, rather than RPD, was significantly associated with reduced ChT in eyes with iAMD. Choroidal insufficiency may be a less important variable in RPD aetiology than previously considered.

Association of risk genotypes of ARMS2/LOC387715 A69S and CFH Y402H with age-related macular degeneration with and without reticular pseudodrusen: a meta-analysis.

To pool the results of published data regarding association of ARMS2/LOC387715 A69S, CFH Y402H and CFH I62V genotypes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with and without reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). The results of this pooled data used to estimate the contribution of each of these genes in the pathogenesis of RPD. Heterogeneity of studies was evaluated using Cochran Q-test and I2 index. To modify the heterogeneity in the variables, we used the random effects model. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA. Odds ratio (OR) of genotypes in each study was calculated. Six studies of AMD with RPD and AMD without RPD cases included in this analysis. Analysis of pooled data showed that risk genotypes frequency of ARMS2 A69S was significantly different between AMD with RPD and AMD without RPD [OR=1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-2.63 for GT versus GG ARMS2 A69S; OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.50-3.84 for TT versus GG ARMS2 A69S]. Further analysis also showed that the risk genotype frequency of CFH Y402H was not significantly different between these two groups (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.69-1.50 for CT versus TT CFH Y402H; OR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.74-1.60 for CC versus TT CFH Y402H). Comparison of above-mentioned ORs revealed statistically higher values for GT and TT genotypes of ARMS2 A69S compared with CFH Y402H genotypes (p=0.011, p=0.014, respectively).Our analysis showed stronger contribution of ARMS2 in AMD with RPD group versus AMD without RPD group, in comparison with CFH genotypes.

Associations Between β-Peripapillary Atrophy and Reticular Pseudodrusen in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PurposeChoroidal thinning has been associated with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) and β-peripapillary atrophy (β-PPA), which have been linked to normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). This analysis sought to determine whether RPD are independently associated with β-PPA in early AMD patients. Secondary outcomes included the association of RPD and preexisting diagnosis of glaucoma, cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and IOP.MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study examined 78 age- and sex-matched early AMD patients: 43 RPD patients (63 eyes) and 35 non-RPD patients (64 eyes). Exclusion criteria included advanced AMD, high myopia, and vitreoretinal conditions/surgery. RPD and non-RPD groups were identified by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. β-PPA as well as CDR were graded on digital, nonstereoscopic fundus photos. SFCT was measured on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography for 69 patients (35 RPD and 34 non-RPD). IOP and glaucoma diagnosis were extracted from charts.Resultsβ-PPA had a greater prevalence in RPD than non-RPD (44% vs. 19%, P = 0.002); however, this relationship was not significant when SFCT was added to the model (P = 0.150). A preexisting diagnosis of glaucoma (P = 0.156), CDR (P = 0.176), and IOP (P = 0.98) was not different between groups.ConclusionsRPD in early AMD are associated with presence of β-PPA, but choroidal thickness is a confounder in this relationship. Because β-PPA is a common finding in NTG, focusing on a potential shared pathway between RPD and NTG could improve the understanding of pathophysiology and expand therapies for each condition.

Ocular Perfusion Pressure and Choroidal Thickness in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients With Reticular Pseudodrusen.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with or without reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). We evaluated the clinical history, blood pressure parameters, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography images of consecutive patients with early AMD. We calculated the mean OPP from blood pressure and intraocular pressure. We included 103 eyes from 103 patients, classifying 45 as the RPD group and 58 as the non-RPD group. The mean OPP of the RPD group (46.1 ± 6.5 mm Hg) did not differ from that of the non-RPD group (45.1 ± 5.1 mm Hg, P = 0.325), but the RPD group showed a thinner mean subfoveal CT (158.3 ± 73.0 μm) than the non-RPD group (220.9 ± 67.0 μm, P < 0.001). Among 64 patients who underwent follow-up examination, the rate of change in subfoveal CT in the RPD group (-4.74 ± 0.86 μm/y) was greater than that in the non-RPD group (-2.46 ± 0.75 μm/y, P = 0.028). In the RPD group, a history of systemic hypertension and lower baseline OPP were associated with a higher rate of change in subfoveal CT (P = 0.019 and P = 0.010, respectively). Subfoveal CT was thinner in early AMD patients with RPD than in those without RPD. Lower baseline mean OPP and a history of systemic hypertension could be risk factors associated with the progression of choroidal thinning in early AMD patients with RPD.

Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in Early and Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Increased lipofuscin accumulation is assumed to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), although direct evidence for this hypothesis is missing. To quantitatively investigate lipofuscin-associated fundus autofluorescence (AF) in patients with early and intermediate AMD. A prospective, single-center, case-control study was conducted from August 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015, at a university referral center. Participants included 40 patients aged 65 years or younger and 108 individuals without eye disease serving as controls. All participants underwent quantitative fundus AF (qAF) imaging with a modified scanning laser ophthalmoscope equipped with an internal fluorescent reference. Mean qAF values of an 8-segment circular ring centered on the fovea (qAF8) were measured and compared between patients and controls. For subgroup analysis, drusen were categorized as soft drusen, cuticular drusen, and/or reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). The qAF8 levels. In the 40 patients with AMD, mean (SD) age was 54.8 (5.6) years, and 32 (80%) were women. None of the investigated patients had qAF8 values above the 95% prediction interval (PI) of the 108 controls. In the soft drusen (28 [70%]) and cuticular drusen (8 [20%]) groups, qAF8 levels within the 95% PI were noted in 22 patients (79%; 95% CI, 60% to 90%) and 7 patients (88%; 95% CI, 51% to 99%) respectively. The qAF8 values in the RPD group (4 [10%]) were below the 95% PI in 3 patients (75%; 95% CI, 29% to 97%). Compared with the controls, statistical analysis revealed lower qAF8 values in the overall AMD cohort after adjusting for age (difference, -19.9% [95% CI, -25.6% to -12.7%], P < .001) as well as in all subgroups (soft drusen, -17.1% [95% CI, -24.1% to -9.5%], P < .001; cuticular drusen, -19.6% [95% CI, -30.3% to -7.2%], P = .003; and RPD, -34.5% [95% CI, -47.1% to -21.3%]; P < .001). The qAF8 measurements in this sample showed no increased lipofuscin-related fundus AF in patients with early and intermediate AMD. Lower qAF levels in certain subgroups may point to subnormal lipofuscin levels in the retinal pigment epithelium or, alternatively, limitations to detection of true retinal pigment epithelial lipofuscin content. The results of this study might expand the understanding of the pathogenesis of AMD and may have an effect on upcoming treatment trials that aim to modify lipofuscin accumulation.

Exploring choriocapillaris under reticular pseudodrusen using OCT-Angiography.

To evaluate if choriocapillaris (CC) vessel density and CC decorrelation signal index are compromised in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Decorrelation values in OCT-A CC images of 20 RPD patients were measured in the outer superior and the outer inferior sector of the EDTRS grid and compared to age-matched healthy controls. CC vessel density and CC decorrelation signal index were measured within a 30 μm and a 10 μm OCT-A CC slab. CC data were correlated to number of RPD lesions, predominantly present RPD stage, predominantly present RPD type, retinal area affected by RPD and choroidal thickness (CT). CC vessel density and CC decorrelation signal index decreased in correlation to advancing age in healthy subjects particularly in subjects older than 60 years (CC vessel density: 30 μm: p=0.0019; 10 μm: p=0.0014; CC decorrelation signal index: 30 μm: p=0.0005; 10 μm: p=0.0003). In the RPD group, CC vessel density (outer superior sector, 10 μm: 98.299) and CC decorrelation signal index (89.07) were significantly reduced compared to controls (99.203, p=0.0002; 98.09, p=0.0010). The number of RPD lesions was correlated to a reduced CC vessel density (30 μm: p=0.0355) but not to changes in CC decorrelation signal index. No correlations were found between CC parameters and either RPD stage, RPD type, size of RPD affected area or CT. OCT-A reveals a distinct reduction in CC vessel density and CC decorrelation signal index in eyes affected by RPD, which emphasizes the relevance of the CC layer in RPD pathogenesis.

Risk Factors Associated With Reticular Pseudodrusen Versus Large Soft Drusen

To investigate genetic, environmental, and systemic risk factors in prospectively identified subjects with the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) phenotypes of (1) reticular pseudodrusen without large soft drusen and (2) large soft drusen without reticular pseudodrusen. Prospective case-case comparison. In a clinical practice setting, patients with AMD were sequentially screened using clinical examination and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging to prospectively identify subjects (n= 73) with the phenotypes of (1) reticular pseudodrusen without large soft drusen (n= 30) or (2) large soft drusen without reticular pseudodrusen (n= 43). Subjects were genotyped for 2 alleles associated with AMD, age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) and complement factor H (CFH). A questionnaire was administered to collect history of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, as well as personal and family history of AMD. The reticular pseudodrusen group was older (median age 87 vs 81 years, P= .04) and had more female subjects (83.3% vs 48.8%, P= .003), later ages of AMD onset (83 vs 70 years, P= .0005), and a greater frequency of hypertension (76.7% vs 55.8%, P= .08). No significant differences were found in the distribution of the ARMS2 risk allele (P= .4) between the reticular pseudodrusen (homozygous= 20.0%; heterozygous= 56.7%) and large soft drusen (homozygous= 19.0%; heterozygous= 42.9%) phenotypes, or in the distribution of the CHF risk allele (P= .7) between the reticular pseudodrusen (homozygous= 26.7%; heterozygous= 56.7%) and large soft drusen (homozygous= 21.4%; heterozygous= 66.7%) phenotypes. The reticular pseudodrusen phenotype was associated with increased age, later age of AMD onset, and female sex.

Reticular Pseudodrusen in Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration Are Associated With Choroidal Thinning

To compare choroidal thickness (CT) measurements in early AMD between patients with and without reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). This cross-sectional study examined 84 age- and sex-matched AMD patients (40 RPD [63 eyes], 44 non-RPD [75 eyes]). Fundus photographs and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images were graded to identify RPD and non-RPD groups by three retinal specialists (MO, SY, SB) who were masked to corresponding SD-OCTs. CT at the fovea and 2400 to 3000 μm superior and inferior to the fovea was measured on SD-OCT by a grader (AG) and reviewed by a retinal specialist (SB). Only images with a clear posterior choroidal margin were analyzed (six eyes excluded due to poor image quality), and enhanced depth imaging SD-OCT was used when available (20 of 138 eyes). Greatest retinal thickness (RT) on horizontal foveal SD-OCT was also recorded. Mean CTs in the superior, foveal, and inferior macula in RPD (191.3 μm ± 57.9 SD, 176.3 μm ± 60.5 SD, 179.7 μm ± 56.24 SD) were significantly less than that of non-RPD (228.0 μm ± 66.1 SD, 216.5 μm ± 70.3 SD, 224.4 μm ± 71.9 SD; P = 0.0010, P = 0.0005, P = 0.0001, respectively), as was greatest RT (P = 0.0301). CT was thinner throughout the macula in the RPD group as compared with the non-RPD group. The current analysis supports an association between RPD and a thinned choroidal layer and is consistent with a choroidal etiology of RPD. CT may be integral to understanding RPD, and may be helpful in stratifying AMD progression risk.

Clinical manifestations of reticular pseudodrusen in Korean patients

AbstractPurpose To clarify the clinical characteristics of reticular pseudodrusen(RPD) in Korean patients.Methods The study was designed as retrospective, observational, consecutive case series. A total of 255 eyes of 130 patients diagnosed with RPD were evaluated. RPD were diagnosed by characteristic fundus findings, using multimodal imaging tests. Age related macular degeneration(AMD) was determined by the International Classification and Grading System.Results The mean age of the patients was 72.6±9.0 years(range, 43‐92). Most of the RPD patients had the disease in both eyes(97.7%), with a female preponderance(86.2%). All of the 3 patients with unilateral RPD had shown neovascular AMD in the eye without RPD. AMD was found in 183 eyes(71.8%); early AMD in 115 eyes(45.1%), geographic atrophy(GA) in 41 eyes(16.1%), and neovasuclar AMD in 27 eyes(10.6%). The mean age was 73.7±9.2 years(range, 58‐92) in the RPD group and 69.9±11.7 years(range, 43‐90) in the control group repectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between these two groups(p&lt;0.05). Classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was found in 13 eyes (48.1%), and occult CNV was found in 14 eyes (51.9%) in the neovascular AMD group.Conclusion Clinical manifestation of RPD in Koreans did not differ significantly from those described in Caucasians. However, our study demonstrated a higher rate of bilaterality, lower prevalence of AMD, and higher prevalence of GA in RPD patients than those previously reported. Ethnical differences may be associated with these findings and further studies are required.