Perfused and Nonperfused Microaneurysms Identified and Characterized by Structural and Angiographic OCT.

PURPOSE

Microaneurysms (MAs) have distinct, oval-shaped, hyperreflective walls on structural OCT, and inconsistent flow signal in the lumen with OCT angiography (OCTA). Their relationship to regional macular edema in diabetic retinopathy (DR) has not been quantitatively explored.

DESIGN

Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 99 participants, including 23 with mild, nonproliferative DR (NPDR), 25 with moderate NPDR, 34 with severe NPDR, and 17 with proliferative DR.

METHODS

We obtained 3 × 3-mm scans with a commercial device (Solix, Visionix/Optovue) in 99 patients with DR. Trained graders manually identified MAs and their location relative to the anatomic layers from cross-sectional OCT. Microaneurysms were first classified as perfused if flow signal was present in the OCTA channel. Then, perfused MAs were further classified into fully and partially perfused MAs based on the flow characteristics in en face OCTA. The presence of retinal fluid based on OCT near MAs was compared between perfused and nonperfused types. We also compared OCT-based MA detection to fundus photography (FP)- and fluorescein angiography (FA)-based detection.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

OCT-identified MAs can be classified according to colocalized OCTA flow signal into fully perfused, partially perfused, and nonperfused types. Fully perfused MAs may be more likely to be associated with diabetic macular edema (DME) than those without flow.

RESULTS

We identified 308 MAs (166 fully perfused, 88 partially perfused, 54 nonperfused) in 42 eyes using OCT and OCTA. Nearly half of the MAs identified in this study straddle the inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer. Compared with partially perfused and nonperfused MAs, fully perfused MAs were more likely to be associated with local retinal fluid. The associated fluid volumes were larger with fully perfused MAs compared with other types. OCT/OCTA detected all MAs found on FP. Although not all MAs seen with FA were identified with OCT, some MAs seen with OCT were not visible with FA or FP.

CONCLUSIONS

OCT-identified MAs with colocalized flow on OCTA are more likely to be associated with DME than those without flow.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.