title: Normative Data for Vascular Density in Superficial and Deep Capillary Plexuses of Healthy Adults Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.
abstract: To establish a normative database for vascular density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) at the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) in healthy subjects with optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography.
  
  
  
  The study was a retrospective chart review of healthy patients who had undergone OCT angiography imaging. A 3- × 3-mm area, centered on the fovea, was scanned for all the study eyes. The automated segmentation allowed separate analysis of the SCP, the DCP, and a comprehensive C-scan including both vascular layers. On the obtained images, VD and FAZ measurements were computed. Interobserver reproducibility and intraobserver repeatability were also assessed.
  
  
  
  A total of 135 eyes of 70 subjects (51% male) were analyzed. The mean age was 48.3 ± 17.5. We divided patients into group 1, from 20 to 39 years of age; group 2, from 40 to 59 years; and group 3, age 60 years or older. At the level of the SCP, mean VD and mean FAZ ± SD were, respectively, 52.58 ± 3.22% and 0.28 ± 0.1 mm2. At the level of the DCP, mean VD and mean FAZ were 57.87 ± 2.82% and 0.37 ± 0.12 mm2, respectively. The mean VD was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in DCP compared with SCP in all Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) sectors and in all age groups. Vascular density was higher in women than in men after 60 years (P < 0.01). After adjustment on the signal strength index (SSI), the mean VD remained directly correlated with the age range and sex. The mean FAZ area was lower in group 3 (P < 0.05). Interobserver reproducibility was 0.78 to 0.99 in SCP and 0.67 to 0.92 in DCP, and intraobserver repeatability was 0.64 to 0.93 in SCP and 0.63 to 0.87 in DCP.
  
  
  
  Our study has provided, for the first time, age-related VD mapping data using OCT angiography in healthy subjects. The prototype software used in this study may help to improve the concept of VD grading with high inter- and intraexaminer repeatability and interexaminer reproducibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coscas
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sellam
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Glacet-Bernard
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Université Paris Est, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goudot
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miere
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophtalmology Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Souied
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002196:Capillaries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult