Objective To observe the anastomotic status of the vortex veins in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA cross-sectional study of clinical practice. From July 2021 to July 2022, 50 cases (50 eyes) of monocular CSC patients diagnosed through ophthalmic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among them, there were 37 males (74.0%, 37/50) and 13 females (26.0%, 13/50), with the mean age of (44.30±9.59) years old. The course of disease from the onset of symptoms to the time of treatment was less than 3 months. The affected eye and contralateral eye of CSC patients were divided into the affected eye group and contralateral eye group, respectively. Fifty healthy volunteers of the same age and gender were selected as the normal control group with 50 eyes. The macular area scanning source optical coherence tomography (OCT) vascular imaging examination was performed with Visual Microimaging (Henan) Technology Co., Ltd. VG200D. Horizontal watershed vortex veins anastomosis rate and asymmetric vortex-venous dilation rate were observed by en face OCT. The device comes with software to calculate the central foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), mean choroidal thickness (MCT), and choroidal vascular index (CVI). One-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to compare the three groups. When variances were unequal between groups, nonparametric tests were performed. ResultsThe SFCT values of the affected eye group, contralateral eye group, and normal control group were (567.12±129.02), (513.26±133.17), (327.64±97.40) μm, respectively; MCT were (407.38±97.54), (388.24±94.13), (275.46±60.55) μm, respectively; CVI were 0.34±0.05, 0.32±0.04, and 0.27±0.04, respectively; anastomosis rates of vortex veins were 98% (49/50), 78% (39/50), and 40% (20/50), respectively; asymmetric dilation rates of vortex veins were 96% (48/50), 88% (44/50), and 48% (24/50), respectively. The differences of SFCT (F=53.974), MCT (Z=51.415), CVI (F=28.082), vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=43.056), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins (χ2=37.728) among three groups were statistically significant (P＜0.001). Compared with the contralateral eye group, the SFCT, MCT, CVI, vortex vein anastomosis rate, and vortex vein asymmetric dilation rate in the affected eye group were significantly higher than those in the contralateral eye group. Among them, the differences of SFCT (t=2.054), CVI (t=2.211), and vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=9.470) were statistically significant (P＜0.05); the differences of MCT (Z=7.490), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins（χ2=2.714) were not statistically significant (P=1.000, 0.140). ConclusionsSFCT, MCT, and CVI in the affected and contralateral eyes of monocular CSC patients significantly increase. The anastomotic rate and asymmetric dilation rate of the vortex vein in the opposite eye were lower than those in the affected eye.
ObjectiveTo analyze the associations between the choroidal vasculature and submacular fluid (SMF) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA retrospective study. A total of 29 CSC patients (31 eyes) with complete records who visited the Department of Ophthalmology in Peking University People's Hospital from August 1, 2021 to March 1, 2023 were included in this study. The patients were divided into complete absorption and incomplete absorption groups according to the status of SMF in the last visit. All the patients underwent ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA) with a scanning range of 24 mm × 20 mm. The UWF SS-OCTA images were automatically analyzed in 9 regions (superotemporal, superior, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, inferior, and inferonasal). Alterations of choroidal vasculature in the nine subfields after SMF absorption were described, including choroidal thickness (CT), flow density of choriocapillaris layer, vessel density of large choroidal vessel layer, three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index (CVI), the mean choroidal vessel volume (mCVV), and the mean choroidal stroma volume (mCSV). The relevant factors affecting the complete absorption of SMF were additionally evaluated. ResultsAt baseline, CT (Z=2.859, P=0.004), mCVV (t=2.514, P=0.018), and mCSV (Z=2.958, P=0.003) in the superotemporal region of the affected eyes in the incomplete absorption group were significantly higher than those in the complete absorption group. Compared with baseline, at the last visit, the proportion of asymmetric vortex veins in the complete absorption group was significantly decreased (χ2=6.000, P=0.014), CVI in the superotemporal, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, and inferonasal regions (t=－4.125, t=－3.247, Z=－3.213, t=－2.994, t=－3.417, t=－3.733, t=－3.795; P=0.001, 0.006, 0.001, 0.010, 0.005, 0.003, 0.002), the mCVV of 9 regions (t=－2.959, t=－2.537, t=－2.235, t=－3.260, t=－3.022, t=－2.796, t=－2.747, Z=－2.107, t=－2.935; P=0.011, 0.025, 0.044, 0.006, 0.010, 0.015, 0.017, 0.035, 0.012) were significantly decreased. Compared to the complete absorption group, the choroidal blood flow changes in the non-complete absorption group were more limited, and CT in the upper region increased significantly at the last follow-up (t=2.272, P=0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that baseline CT in the superotemporal region may be an independent risk factor affecting the complete absorption of SMF (odds ratio=0.981, 95% confidential interval 0.965-0.997, P=0.021). ConclusionsIn the process of SMF absorption in CSC, significant reductions of choroidal blood flow were found in the large choroidal vessel layer, and there may be a locally compensatory increase in CT. In addition, baseline CT in superotemporal region is an independent risk factor affecting SMF absorption.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of chorioidal thickness (ChT) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in different mode of vortic venous dilation. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional observational study. A total of 80 patients with 89 eyes (CSC group) diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command from April to October 2023 were included in the study. Among them, 64 males had 71 eyes and 17 females had 18 eyes. A total of 15 healthy volunteers matched in age and sex were selected as the control group. Among them, 14 men had 26 eyes and one woman had two eyes. The macular region was examined by ultra-wide-angle scanning frequency source optical coherence tomography (OCTA) with BM400K BMizar made by TowardPi (Beijing) Medical Technology Co., LTD. Scanning rate 1 536 A scanning×1 280 B scanning, scanning range 24 mm×20 mm. The accompanying software delineated nine subfields (superotemporal, upper, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, lower, inferonasal regions) to record ChT. En-face OCTA mode was utilized to observe the anatomy and functional anastomosis of the vortex veins above and below the choroidal blood layer. Eyes in the CSC group were further categorized into upper-dominant, symmetrical, and lower-dominant groups based on the difference in vortex vein expansion shown in the choroidal layer of the en-face image, with 36, 35, and 18 eyes respectively. Statistical analysis included the use of independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney test for comparison between two groups, one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test for comparison between multiple groups, and the χ test or Fisher test for categorical variables. ResultsCompared with the control group, ChT in the CSC group was thickened in the foveal area and different areas of the macula, with the greatest difference in the fovea, and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.345, 5.018, 2.902, 4.667, 7.276, 3.307, 3.868, 4.795, 2.583; P＜0.05). Compared with the ChT of the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in the superotemporal, region of the upper-dominant group (t=1.510, P＞0.05); in other regions, the differences were statistically significant (t=3.207, 5.163, 2.526, 4.310, 6.285, 2.656, 3.812, 2.173; P＜0.05). The differences in the foveal area and other areas in the symmetrical group were statistically significant (t=4.488, 5.554, 3.457, 5.314, 7.256, 3.507, 5.584, 6.019, 2.994; P＜0.05). In the superotemporal, and superonasal, regions of the lower dominant group, the differences were not statistically significant (t=1.150, 1.465; P＜0.05); in other regions, the differences were statistically significant (t=2.278, 4.168, 5.244, 2.783, 5.040, 3.432, 2.095; P＜0.05). ConclusionThe dilated distribution of vortex veins on en-face ultra-wide-angle OCTA has a corresponding relationship with ChT. In eyes with CSC, the superior vortex vein drainage system may be the primary route for choroidal drainage.
ObjectiveTo observe the correlation between retinal capillary density and retinal thickness in the macula and spherical equivalent (SE) in school-age children. MethodsA cross-sectional study. From May to December 2022, 182 school-age children who visited the ophthalmology department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included . There were 95 males and 87 females. The age ranged from 6 to 12 years, and the spherical equivalent (SE) was +0.50 to －6.00 D. They were divided into three groups based on the SE of the right eyes: 54 eyes in emmetropia group (+0.50≤SE＜－0.50 D), 71 eyes in low myopia group (－0.50≤SE＜－3.00 D), and 57 eyes in moderate myopia group (－3.00≤SE≤－6.00 D). The macular area of 6 mm×6 mm was scanned using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography and was divided into three concentric rings centered on the fovea, including the macular central fovea (0-1 mm diameter), inner ring (1-3 mm diameter) and outer ring (3-6 mm diameter). The retinal thickness and blood flow density of superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep vascular plexus (DVP) in different zones within 6 mm of the macular area were measured. The relationships between SE and SVP, DVP and retinal thickness in each ring region were investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effects. ResultsThere were significant differences in the SVP (F=6.64, 26.06, 22.69) and DVP (F=7.97, 25.01, 5.09) of macular central fovea, inner ring and outer ring among the emmetropia, low myopia and moderate myopia groups (P＜0.05). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that the SVP (β=－0.56, －1.17, －0.79) and DVP (β=－1.03, －0.93, －0.45) of the three regions were positively correlated with SE (P＜0.05). After smooth curve fitting, threshold effect analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis, the SVP and DVP in the macular central fovea were linearly positively correlated with SE (β=－0.91, －1.40; P＜0.05), and SVP and DVP in the inner ring and outer ring showed an inverted U-shaped curve relationship with SE with the inflection (＜3.00 D). When the SE was less than ＜3.00 D, the SVP and DVP in the inner ring and outer ring were positively correlated with SE (P＜0.05). When the SE was higher than －3.00 D, except for the DVP in the inner ring region, the other parameters were negatively correlated with SE (P＜0.05). There were significant differences in retinal thickness of the inner ring and outer ring (F=5.47, 16.36; P＜0.05), and no significant difference in the macular central fovea among the emmetropia, low and moderate myopia groups (F=2.16, P＞0.05). By using univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses, the retinal thickness in the inner ring and outer ring were negatively correlated with SE (β =1.99, 3.05; P＜0.05). However, no correlation was found between retinal thickness and SE in the macular central fovea (β=－1.65, P＞0.05). ConclusionsIn school-age children with SE between +0.50 D and －6.00 D, the retinal capillaries density of the macular central fovea gradually increase, and increase first and then decrease in the inner ring and outer ring with increasing SE. The retinal thickness of inner ring and outer ring gradually decrease and not change significantly in the macular central fovea.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical and imaging characteristics of eyes with idiopathic focal choroidal excavation (FCE) and acquired FCE, and to preliminarily analyze the association of FCE with different fundus diseases. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. A total of 90 patients (93 eyes) diagnosed with FCE at the Ophthalmology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to May 2024 were included in the study. All affected eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, ophthalmoscope, fundus color photography, and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). SS-OCT was used to measure subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness at the temporal, nasal, and inferior margins of the FCE, as well as the maximum width and depth of the FCE. Based on the presence of concomitant fundus diseases, FCE cases were divided into an idiopathic FCE group (51 eyes) and an acquired FCE group (42 eyes). Clinical characteristics at the initial and final visits were compared between the two groups. Clinical features were also analyzed for acquired FCE eyes with different associated fundus diseases. A logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors for FCE coexisting with other fundus diseases. ResultsCompared to the idiopathic FCE group, the acquired FCE group had significantly decreased BCVA (Z=?8.290), significantly increased FCE width (Z=?2.762), and significantly higher incidence rates of saucer-shaped FCE (χ2=8.352) and ellipsoid zone disruption (χ2=7.999). These differences were all statistically significant (P＜0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, gender distribution, IOP, foveal involvement, proportion of conforming FCE, retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch’s membrane rupture, presence of hyperreflective material under the excavation, presence of surrounding thick vessels, FCE depth, SFCT, or choroidal thickness at the inferior, temporal, and nasal margins of the FCE (P＞0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that FCE width (odds ratio=1.002, 95% confidence interval: 1.001-1.004, P=0.005) was the sole risk factor for FCE coexisting with other fundus complications. In both the idiopathic and acquired FCE groups, FCE depth and width remained relatively stable during follow-up. BCVA improved in the acquired FCE group after treatment. ConclusionsFCE can coexist with various fundus diseases. FCE width is the only risk factor for the development of other fundus complications in FCE-affected eyes. Treating retinal or choroidal diseases associated with acquired FCE can provide visual benefits to patients.
We aimed to establish an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system to measure the strain of blood vessels. A general OCT system was constructed firstly and its reliability was confirmed by comparing the OCT imaging of the porcine coronary and the corresponding histological slices. The strain of the porcine coronary was induced by static flow pressure and correlation algorithm was used to calculate the strain field of blood vessels within OCT images. The results suggest that bright-dark stratification of blood vessels displayed in OCT images is consistent with the intima and media layers of histological image. Furthermore, the strain of media layer is greater than that of the intima layer under the same static pressure. The optical coherence imaging system could not only measure the histological structure of the blood vessels, but also qualify the vessel strain under flow pressure.
ObjectiveTo examine the postoperative morphological changes in outer retinal wave-like changes (ORC) in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2020 to March 2024, 64 eyes of 64 RRD patients diagnosed at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University were included. The cohort included 39 males (39 eyes) and 25 females (25 eyes), with a mean age of (45.3±15.7) years and a mean retinal detachment duration of (16.6±13.5) days. Macular involvement was observed in 51 eyes. Scleral buckling surgery (SB), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and SB+PPV were performed in 17, 44, and 3 eyes respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations were performed in all affected eyes. BCVA examination was performed using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and the visual acuity was converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) during statistics. Combined with the ORC situation before the operation, the morphological repositioning of outer retinal folds (ORF) after the operation was classified into types Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ. One week and one and three months after the operation, relevant examinations were performed using the same equipment and methods as before the operation. The structural characteristics of ORC and the morphology of ORF after surgery were observed. The comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test or the Mann-Whitney U test. ResultsAmong the 64 eyes, preoperative ORC was present in 46 eyes (71.9%, 46/64) and absent in 18 eyes (28.1%, 18/64). The 18 eyes without ORC had retinal detachment durations of either ≤4 days or ≥42 days. Postoperatively, ORF was observed in 51 eyes (79.7%, 51/64) and absent in 13 eyes (20.3%, 13/64). Among the 51 eyes with macular holes involved, 24 eyes (47.1%, 24/51) had ORF after the operation and 27 eyes (52.9%, 27/51) had no ORF. Among the 46 and 18 eyes with and without ORC, the ORF after surgery was 28 (60.9%, 28/46) and 1 (5.6%, 1/18) eyes, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the reduction rate of ORF after surgery between eyes with and without ORC (χ2=15.974, P＜0.001). Among the 46 eyes with ORC, the proportions of ORF to types Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ after surgery were 24 (52.2%, 24/46), 20 (43.5%, 20/46), and 2 (4.3%, 2/46) eyes, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ORF after different surgical methods in eyes with ORC (P＞0.05). One week and one month after the surgery, the logMAR BCVA of the affected eyes with and without ORF was 0.97±0.47, 0.69±0.34 and 0.85±0.32, 0.54±0.21, respectively. The BCVA of those without ORF was better than that of those with ORF, but the differences were not statistically significant (t=0.237, 0.408; P＞0.05). ConclusionsThe occurrence of ORC in RRD eyes has a certain relationship with the time of retinal detachment. For RRD eyes with ORC before the operation, the repositioning morphology after the operation is more likely to show changes in ORF. The transformation from ORC to ORF after ORC surgery has no correlation with the surgical method.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a new technique applied in cardiovascular system. It can detect vessel intimal, small structure of plaque surface and discover small lesions with its high axial resolution and quantification character. Especially with the application of OCT in characterization of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, diagnosis and treatment strategy making, optimizing percutaneous coronary intervention therapy and assessment after stent planting make the OCT become an efficient tool for cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment. This paper presents a novel coronary vessel intimal sequence extraction method based on prior boundary constraints in OCT image. On the basis of conventional Chan-Vese model, we modified the evolutionary weight function to control the evolutionary rate of boundary by adding local information of boundary curve. At the same time, we added the gradient energy term and intimal boundary constraint term based on priori boundary condition to further control the evolutionary of boundary curve. At last, coronary vessel intimal is extracted in a sequence way. The comparison with vessel intimal, manual segmented by clinical scientists (golden standard), indicates that our coronary vessel intimal extraction method is robust to intimal boundary blur, distortion, guide wire shadow and plaque disturbs. The results of this study can be applied to clinical aid diagnosis and precise diagnosis and treatment.
A three-dimensional (3D) model of human anterior chamber is reconstructed to explore the effect of different corneal temperatures on the heat transfer in the chamber. Based on the optical coherence tomography imaging of the volunteers with normal anterior chamber, a 3D anterior chamber model was reconstructed by the method of UG parametric design. Numerical simulation of heat transfer and aqueous humor flow in the whole anterior chamber were analyzed by the finite volume methods at different corneal temperatures. The results showed that different corneal temperatures had obvious influence on the temperature distribution and the aqueous flow in the anterior chamber. The temperature distribution is linear and axial symmetrical around the pupillary axis. As the temperature difference increases, the symmetry becomes poorer. Aqueous floated along the warm side and sank along the cool side which forms a vortexing flow. Its velocity increased with the addition of temperature difference. Heat fluxes of cornea, lens andiris were mainly affected by the aqueous velocity. The higher the velocity, the bigger more absolute value of the above-mentioned heat fluxes became. It is practicable to perform the numerical simulation of anterior chamber by the optical coherence tomography imaging. The results are useful for studying the important effect of corneal temperature on the heat transfer and aqueous humor dynamics in the anterior chamber.
Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) has emerged as a high-resolution and minimal-invasive imaging technique that provides high-speed visualization of coronary arterial vessel walls and clearly displays the vessel lumen and lesions under the intima. However, morphological gray-scale images cannot provide enough information about the tissue components to accurately characterize the plaque tissues including calcified, fibrous, lipidic and mixed plaques. Quantitative IVOCT (qIVOCT) is necessary to provide the physiological contrast mechanisms and obtain the characteristic parameters of tissues with clinical diagnostic value. In this paper, the progress of qIVOCT is reviewed. The current methods for quantitatively measuring optical, elastic and hemodynamic parameters of vessel wall and plaque tissues using IVOCT gray-scale images and raw backscattered signals are introduced and potential development is forecast.