Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new and non-invasive imaging technique that is able to detect blood flow signal in the retina and the choroid within seconds. OCTA is different from the traditional angiography methods. The major advantages of OCTA are that it can observe blood flow signal in different layers of the retina and the choroid without injecting any dye, provide blood flow information that traditional angiography cannot provide, and enrich pathophysiological knowledge of the retinal and choroidal vascular diseases., which help us to make an accurate diagnosis and efficient evaluation of these diseases. However there is a large upgrade potential either on OCTA technique itself or on clinical application of OCTA. We need to fully understand the advantage and disadvantage, and differences of OCTA and traditional angiography. We also need to know how to interpret the result of OCTA. With that we could make a fast diagnosis in a non-invasive way and improve our knowledge of the retinal and choroidal vascular diseases.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) for retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). MethodsEleven patients (14 eyes) with RAP were enrolled in this retrospective clinical study. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and maximum retinal thickness (MRT) were detected by examination of visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The average BCVA was 0.17±0.21, CRT was (382.71±219.07) μm, MRT was (746.36±268.29) μm. All eyes received 0.5 mg (0.05 ml) ranibizumab injection. Follow-up visits were performed monthly after injection. The mean follow-up time was (15.38±13.64) month. Injections were repeated if the eyes with retinal edema. The mean number of repetitive IVR was (3.7±1.0) times/eye (from 1 to 10 times). Changes in BCVA, CRT, MRT and complications were observed at the last follow up. ResultsAt the last follow-up, the mean BCVA was 0.28±0.26 (from 0.01 to 1.0). Of 14 eyes, visual acuity improved in 11 eyes, not changed in 2 eyes and decreased in 1 eye. The difference of BCVA was significant between before and after the treatment (t=3.167,P=0.007). The mean CRT was (166.14±52.79) μm, which was less than that of pre-treatment values (t=3.737,P=0.002). The mean MRT was (360.43±102.19) μm, which was less than that of pre-treatment values (t=6.106,P=0.000). No ocular or systemic adverse effects occurred. ConclusionIVR is an efficient and safe treatment for RAP, with visual acuity improvement, decrease of CRT and MRT.