Noninvasive, High-Resolution Functional Macular Imaging in Subjects With Retinal Vein Occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Several imaging modalities have been developed to characterize ischemia inherent in retinal vascular diseases. This study aims to predict the impact and to better establish the mechanisms of visual deterioration. A high-resolution functional imaging device is used, yielding quantitative data for macular blood flow and capillary network features in healthy eyes and in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective, cross-sectional, comparative case series measured blood flow velocities (BFVs) and noninvasive capillary perfusion maps (nCPMs) in macular vessels in patients with BRVO/CRVO and in healthy controls using the Retinal Function Imager (RFI; Optical Imaging, Rehovot, Israel).

RESULTS

Twenty-two eyes of 21 subjects were studied (eight with CRVO, five with BRVO, and nine controls). A significant decrease was observed in the BFVs of both arterioles and venules in the affected macular region of patients with CRVO and BRVO (2.84 ± 1.21 mm/s and 2.67 ± 1.43 mm/s in CRVO/BRVO arterioles, respectively, vs. 4.23 ± 1.04 mm/s in healthy controls, P < .001; and 1.64 ± 0.51 mm/s and 1.60 ± 0.41 mm/s in CRVO/BRVO venules, respectively, vs. 2.88 ± 0.93 mm/s in healthy controls, P < .001). BFVs in non-affected macular regions of patients with BRVO were not statistically different from BFVs in healthy eyes (3.84 ± 1.04 mm/s and 3.17 ± 1.39 mm/s in BRVO patients vs. 4.23 ± 1.04 mm/s and 2.88 ± 0.93 mm/s in healthy controls' arterioles and venules, respectively; P ≥ .1). nCPMs allowed high-resolution imaging of the macular vasculature and successfully demonstrated ischemic areas in the RVO groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The RFI provided high-resolution functional imaging of the retinal microvasculature and enabled quantitative measurement of BFVs in patients with RVO. Diminished flow velocity in arterioles and venules raises the possibility that RVO represents a panvascular compromise not confined to just venous stasis or its secondary arteriolar effects. The RFI offers potential to help with diagnosis and management of RVO cases. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:799-809.].