N Mihailovic1, N Eter2, M Alnawaiseh2. 1. Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Domagkstr. 15, 48149, Münster, Deutschland. natasa.mihailovic@ukmuenster.de. 2. Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Domagkstr. 15, 48149, Münster, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) has often been analyzed under different aspects in the last decades, mainly by fluorescence angiography (FA); however, the novel technology of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables a non-invasive examination, visualization and quantitative analysis of the FAZ, which has recently led to many new findings, especially in a multidisciplinary manner. This article provides an overview of the investigation of the FAZ using OCTA and the new findings that have been obtained using OCTA in recent years. METHODS: This article is based on a comprehensive literature review. RESULTS: In many studies a good reproducibility and repeatability of the FAZ measurements by OCTA could be proven, also by comparing different OCTA devices. In patients with ocular pathologies and systemic diseases, e. g. after retinal vein occlusion or retinal surgery and in patients with diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy, differences to healthy control groups and correlations to visual function could be shown. Moreover, in patients with neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's dementia, changes of the FAZ could be identified. CONCLUSION: The OCTA is a non-invasive technology, which enables a reliable visualization and reproducible quantification of the FAZ. The size of the FAZ seems to be altered in different retinal and systemic diseases, which also may correlate with visual function; however, long-term studies evaluating the diagnostic value of these changes in the course of the disease are currently lacking.
BACKGROUND: The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) has often been analyzed under different aspects in the last decades, mainly by fluorescence angiography (FA); however, the novel technology of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables a non-invasive examination, visualization and quantitative analysis of the FAZ, which has recently led to many new findings, especially in a multidisciplinary manner. This article provides an overview of the investigation of the FAZ using OCTA and the new findings that have been obtained using OCTA in recent years. METHODS: This article is based on a comprehensive literature review. RESULTS: In many studies a good reproducibility and repeatability of the FAZ measurements by OCTA could be proven, also by comparing different OCTA devices. In patients with ocular pathologies and systemic diseases, e. g. after retinal vein occlusion or retinal surgery and in patients with diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy, differences to healthy control groups and correlations to visual function could be shown. Moreover, in patients with neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's dementia, changes of the FAZ could be identified. CONCLUSION: The OCTA is a non-invasive technology, which enables a reliable visualization and reproducible quantification of the FAZ. The size of the FAZ seems to be altered in different retinal and systemic diseases, which also may correlate with visual function; however, long-term studies evaluating the diagnostic value of these changes in the course of the disease are currently lacking.
Authors: Emanuele Crincoli; Donato Colantuono; Zhanlin Zhao; Eric H Souied; Alexandra Miere Journal: Acta Diabetol Date: 2022-07-05 Impact factor: 4.087
Authors: Bruno Mauricio Rodrigues de Oliveira; Luis Filipe Nakayama; Bruno Rebello de Godoy; Alexandre Gomes Bortoloti de Azevedo; Flavio Eduardo Hirai; Somaia Mitne Journal: Int J Retina Vitreous Date: 2020-08-03
Authors: Felix Goldbach; Georgios Mylonas; Martin Riegelnegg; Jonas Brugger; Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth; Bianca S Gerendas Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 3.752