Elzawahry Farida Omar, Sahay Prity, Said Dalia, Dua Harminder Singh
Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
National Institute of Laser enhanced Sciences, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Eye (Lond). 2025 May;39(7):1332-1336. doi: 10.1038/s41433-024-03558-4. Epub 2025 Jan 25.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Anterior segment optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) is used extensively in imaging the cornea in health and disease. Our objective was to analyse and monitor corneal vascularisation (CVas) through the corresponding back-shadows visible on AS-OCT.
SUBJECTS/METHODS: AS-OCT scans were obtained from 26 consecutive patients (eyes) with CVas of different aetiologies. AS-OCT horizontal line scans showing the back shadows cast by the vessels were analysed and correlated with findings seen on slit lamp examination. Vessels were graded clinically as active, partially regressed, and regressed. The density of back shadow in the patient samples before and after treatment was analysed using Image-J software.
AS-OCT demonstrated a dense back shadow in all the 26 active vessels studied. When multiple vessels were present, the barcode sign was apparent. The back shadows absent in 22 (84.62%) at the regressed (healed) stage. The intensity of the backshadow had reduced in regressing vessels 4 (15.38%). The integrated density of the backshadow on AS-OCT in the active stage (pre-treatment) and corresponding healed (post-treatment, partially regressed or ghost vessels) scans was statistically significantly different (P < 0.0001).
This study demonstrates that AS-OCT provides additional important information in patients with CVas enabling distinction between active and regressing/regressed vessels. Semiquantitative assessment can be made by measuring the integrated density of the back shadows produced by the vessels.
背景/目的：眼前节光学相干断层扫描（AS - OCT）广泛应用于健康和疾病状态下的角膜成像。我们的目的是通过AS - OCT上可见的相应后向阴影来分析和监测角膜血管化（CVas）。
受试者/方法：对26例连续患有不同病因CVas的患者（眼睛）进行AS - OCT扫描。分析显示血管投射后向阴影的AS - OCT水平线扫描，并与裂隙灯检查结果相关联。临床上将血管分为活动期、部分消退期和消退期。使用Image - J软件分析患者样本治疗前后后向阴影的密度。
在所有研究的26条活动期血管中，AS - OCT均显示出密集的后向阴影。当存在多条血管时，条形码征明显。在消退（愈合）阶段，22例（84.62%）的后向阴影消失。4例（15.38%）处于消退期的血管后向阴影强度降低。活动期（治疗前）和相应愈合期（治疗后、部分消退或残留血管）扫描中AS - OCT上后向阴影的积分密度在统计学上有显著差异（P < 0.0001）。
本研究表明，AS - OCT为患有CVas的患者提供了额外的重要信息，能够区分活动期和消退/消退期血管。通过测量血管产生的后向阴影的积分密度可以进行半定量评估。
