Claudine E Pang1, Karen B Schaal, Michael Engelbert. 1. *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; and ‡Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the presence of prevascular vitreous fissures (PVF) and posterior vitreous cisterns in vivo and correlate with the degree of vitreous degeneration (VD). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using Topcon Deep Range Imaging OCT-1 Atlantis 3D swept source optical coherence tomography for acquiring scans of posterior vitreous covering an 18 × 18-mm area in 104 eyes of 52 healthy volunteers without posterior vitreous detachment. RESULTS: We observed that increasing age was associated with higher VD grades (P < 0.05). Prevascular vitreous fissures, characterized by areas of lower optical density overlying the retinal blood vessels, were identified in 93 (89%) eyes, and the presence of PVF correlated with lower VD grades (P < 0.05). Presence of cisterns correlated with higher VD grades (P < 0.05). All eyes with absence of PVF were found to have established cisterns. Prevascular vitreous fissures were connected with cisterns in 44 of the 71 (62%) eyes with cisterns, while the base of the cistern was directly above retinal blood vessels in 38 (54%) eyes, which suggests that the cisterns could be derived from PVF. CONCLUSION: Swept source optical coherence tomography imaging can identify PVF and cisterns occurring in the context of age-related VD, and PVF appeared to be possible precursors of cisterns.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the presence of prevascular vitreous fissures (PVF) and posterior vitreous cisterns in vivo and correlate with the degree of vitreous degeneration (VD). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using Topcon Deep Range Imaging OCT-1 Atlantis 3D swept source optical coherence tomography for acquiring scans of posterior vitreous covering an 18 × 18-mm area in 104 eyes of 52 healthy volunteers without posterior vitreous detachment. RESULTS: We observed that increasing age was associated with higher VD grades (P < 0.05). Prevascular vitreous fissures, characterized by areas of lower optical density overlying the retinal blood vessels, were identified in 93 (89%) eyes, and the presence of PVF correlated with lower VD grades (P < 0.05). Presence of cisterns correlated with higher VD grades (P < 0.05). All eyes with absence of PVF were found to have established cisterns. Prevascular vitreous fissures were connected with cisterns in 44 of the 71 (62%) eyes with cisterns, while the base of the cistern was directly above retinal blood vessels in 38 (54%) eyes, which suggests that the cisterns could be derived from PVF. CONCLUSION: Swept source optical coherence tomography imaging can identify PVF and cisterns occurring in the context of age-related VD, and PVF appeared to be possible precursors of cisterns.
Authors: Giulio Barteselli; Dirk-Uwe Bartsch; Robert N Weinreb; Natalia Camacho; Joseph T Nezgoda; Amir H Marvasti; William R Freeman Journal: Retina Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 4.256