Concentric Choriocapillaris Flow Deficits in Retinitis Pigmentosa Detected Using Wide-Angle Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

PURPOSE

We investigate whether choriocapillaris deficits can be visualized in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using wide-angle swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and whether angiography or structure en face images depict a wider area of residual choriocapillaris.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 43 eyes of 43 consecutive patients with RP with a visual acuity ≥0.1, and 12 healthy eyes of 12 volunteers. Using an OCTA device (PLEX Eite 9000), we obtained angiography and structure en face images in the choriocapillaris. The residual choriocapillaris area in a 12 × 12 mm macular cube was measured manually.

RESULTS

In patients with RP, the residual choriocapillaris area was 113.1 ± 41.9 and 64.0 ± 47.8 mm2 in angiography and structure images, respectively (P < 0.001). Concentric and vermicular choriocapillaris flow deficits were observed in 10 (23%) and 17 (40%) eyes of RP patients, respectively; no deficits were observed in 16 eyes (37%). Mean age was higher in eyes with concentric, vermicular, and nondeficit choriocapillaris. No healthy eye showed choriocapillaris deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

Using wide-angle swept-source OCTA, concentric and vermicular choriocapillaris flow deficits were observed in the eyes of RP patients. A comparison of angiography and structure en face images of the choriocapillaris in RP cases suggests that angiography images can evaluate a wider area of the choriocapillaris than structure images.