Choroidal perfusion perturbations in non-neovascular age related macular degeneration

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology 2002-02, Vol.86 (2), p.209-213
• Main Authors: Ciulla, Thomas A, Harris, Alon, Kagemann, Larry, Danis, Ronald P, Pratt, Linda M, Chung, Hak S, Weinberger, Dov, Garzozi, Hanna J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: age related macular degeneration; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Blood-vessels; Case-Control Studies; Choroid - blood supply; choroidal perfusion perturbations; Clinical Science; Coloring Agents; Diabetic retinopathy; Eye; Eye movements; Female; Grants; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Lasers; Macular degeneration; Macular Degeneration - physiopathology; Male; Medical examination; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Ophthalmoscopy - methods; Quantitative analysis; Regional Blood Flow; Retina; Retinal degeneration; Retinopathies; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.86.2.209

Aim: Choroidal perfusion, affected in age related macular degeneration (AMD), is difficult to objectively assess given the overlying retinal circulation. This study more objectively compared choroidal perfusion parameters in a group with non-neovascular AMD to an unaffected age matched control group. Methods: 21 non-neovascular AMD subjects and 21 age matched control subjects without evidence of AMD underwent assessment of their choroidal blood flow in a case-control study. Scanning laser ophthalmoscope indocyanine green (ICG) angiograms were analysed by a new area dilution analysis technique. Four areas in the perifoveal region and two areas in the temporal peripapillary retina were evaluated by producing a graph of intensity of fluorescence of each area over time. The mean of the filling times and the heterogeneity of the filling times were assessed. Results: The means of the filling times within the perifoveal regions and the hetereogeneity of the filling times between regions within the same eyes were significantly greater in the AMD patients compared with the control subjects. Conclusions: Delayed and heterogeneous filling of the choroid was objectively demonstrated in eyes with non-neovascular AMD compared with age matched controls without evidence of AMD, using an area dilution analysis technique applied to ICG angiography.