OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY OF TYPE 3 NEOVASCULARIZATION SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the vascular structure of Type 3 neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration using optical coherence tomography angiography.


METHODS
Optical coherence tomography angiography cube scans (3 mm × 3 mm) were acquired in 29 eyes of 24 patients with Type 3 lesions secondary to age-related macular degeneration using the RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue, Split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation, and motion correction technology. Automated layer segmentation boundaries were adjusted to best visualize the neovascular complex on en face projection images.


RESULTS
A distinct neovascular complex could be identified in 10 (34%) eyes, all of which were active on optical coherence tomography imaging. In all 10 eyes, the neovascular complex appeared as a small tuft of bright, high-flow tiny vessels with curvilinear morphology located in the outer retinal layers with a feeder vessel communicating with the inner retinal circulation (i.e., deep retinal capillary plexus). The mean (SD) size of the neovascular complex measured 0.07 (± 0.07) mm.


CONCLUSIONS
With optical coherence tomography angiography, it is possible to identify small intraretinal neovascular complexes communicating with the deep retinal capillary plexus in eyes with Type 3 neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of Type 3 neovascular complexes can be performed using optical coherence tomography angiography.
*Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California; †Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California; ‡Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; §LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; ¶Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom; **New England Eye Center and Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; ††Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; ‡‡CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil; §§Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, California; ¶¶Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and ***Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare Center, Los Angeles, California.
Laura
L
Kuehlewein
Kunal K
KK
Dansingani
Talisa E
TE
de Carlo
Marco A
MA
Bonini Filho
Nicholas A
NA
Iafe
Tamara L
TL
Lenis
K Bailey
KB
Freund
Nadia K
NK
Waheed
Jay S
JS
Duker
SriniVas R
SR
Sadda
David
D
Sarraf
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A