Objective To observe the anastomotic status of the vortex veins in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA cross-sectional study of clinical practice. From July 2021 to July 2022, 50 cases (50 eyes) of monocular CSC patients diagnosed through ophthalmic examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were included in the study. Among them, there were 37 males (74.0%, 37/50) and 13 females (26.0%, 13/50), with the mean age of (44.30±9.59) years old. The course of disease from the onset of symptoms to the time of treatment was less than 3 months. The affected eye and contralateral eye of CSC patients were divided into the affected eye group and contralateral eye group, respectively. Fifty healthy volunteers of the same age and gender were selected as the normal control group with 50 eyes. The macular area scanning source optical coherence tomography (OCT) vascular imaging examination was performed with Visual Microimaging (Henan) Technology Co., Ltd. VG200D. Horizontal watershed vortex veins anastomosis rate and asymmetric vortex-venous dilation rate were observed by en face OCT. The device comes with software to calculate the central foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), mean choroidal thickness (MCT), and choroidal vascular index (CVI). One-way analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to compare the three groups. When variances were unequal between groups, nonparametric tests were performed. ResultsThe SFCT values of the affected eye group, contralateral eye group, and normal control group were (567.12±129.02), (513.26±133.17), (327.64±97.40) μm, respectively; MCT were (407.38±97.54), (388.24±94.13), (275.46±60.55) μm, respectively; CVI were 0.34±0.05, 0.32±0.04, and 0.27±0.04, respectively; anastomosis rates of vortex veins were 98% (49/50), 78% (39/50), and 40% (20/50), respectively; asymmetric dilation rates of vortex veins were 96% (48/50), 88% (44/50), and 48% (24/50), respectively. The differences of SFCT (F=53.974), MCT (Z=51.415), CVI (F=28.082), vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=43.056), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins (χ2=37.728) among three groups were statistically significant (P＜0.001). Compared with the contralateral eye group, the SFCT, MCT, CVI, vortex vein anastomosis rate, and vortex vein asymmetric dilation rate in the affected eye group were significantly higher than those in the contralateral eye group. Among them, the differences of SFCT (t=2.054), CVI (t=2.211), and vortex vein anastomosis rate (χ2=9.470) were statistically significant (P＜0.05); the differences of MCT (Z=7.490), asymmetric dilation rate of vortex veins（χ2=2.714) were not statistically significant (P=1.000, 0.140). ConclusionsSFCT, MCT, and CVI in the affected and contralateral eyes of monocular CSC patients significantly increase. The anastomotic rate and asymmetric dilation rate of the vortex vein in the opposite eye were lower than those in the affected eye.
Objective To compare changes in retinal and choroidal blood flow in the macular area of eyes with idiopathic macular hole (IMH), fellow eyes, and normal eyes. Additionally, the correlation between these blood flow changes and the occurrence and development of IMH. Methods A cross-sectional study. From January 2023 to January 2024, 47 patients (47 eyes) diagnosed with IMH (IMH group) in Department of Ophthalmology of The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University were included in the study. The contralateral eye of IMH eyes was assigned to the contralateral eye group. Healthy volunteers with matched gender and age were selected as the normal control group. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography was used to acquire the vessel density (VD) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) in the areas within 0-1 mm and 1-6 mm around the fovea, including the superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal regions. Additionally, the choroidal blood flow area (CBFA) and three-dimensional choroidal vascular index (3D-CVI) were measured. The minimum linear diameter (MLD) and base diameter (BD) of the IMH were manually measured. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between the size of the IMH and the various vascular parameters. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, the SCP-VD in the 3rd stage (t=1.298, P=0.009) and 4th stage (t=1.264, P＜0.000) eyes in the IMH group was significantly decreased, with statistical significance; the DCP-VD (t=1.958, 2.150, 1.712, 1.667; P=0.027, ＜0.000, ＜0.000, ＜0.000) and 3D-CVI (t=0.027, 0.030, 0.024, 0.023; P=0.005, 0.003, ＜0.000, ＜0.000) in eyes of all stages were significantly decreased, with statistical significance; the CBFA in eyes of stages 2-4 was significantly decreased, with statistical significance (t=0.027, 0.022, 0.021; P=0.028, 0.002, 0.002). Compared with the contralateral eye group, the DCP-VD and 3D-CVI in the IMH group were significantly reduced, with statistical significance (Z=−3.289, −2.704; P=0.001, 0.007). Pairwise comparisons between eyes of different stages in the IMH group showed that SCP-VD was significantly different between stage 2 and stage 4 (t=1.776, P=0.008); DCP-VD was significantly different between stage 1 and stage 3, and stage 1 and stage 4 (t=1.685, 1.661; P=0.002, 0.000). Correlation analysis showed that SCP-VD was negatively correlated with MLD and BD (r=−0.508, −0.408; P=0.002, 0.014); DCP-VD was negatively correlated with BD (r=−0.410, P=0.013). Compared with the normal control group, the nasal CBFA in stage 3 and 4 IMH eyes (t=0.149, 0.145; P=0.005, 0.002), and the nasal 3D-CVI in stage 1 and 3 IMH eyes (t=0.030, 0.027; P=0.002, ＜0.000) were significantly decreased, with statistical significance. ConclusionsThe SCP-VD, DCP-VD, CBFA, and 3D-CVI in IMH eyes were significantly reduced. SCP-VD showed a negative correlation with MLD and BD, while DCP-VD was only negatively correlated with BD.
In recent years, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has developed into a popular coronary imaging technology at home and abroad. The segmentation of plaque regions in coronary OCT images has great significance for vulnerable plaque recognition and research. In this paper, a new algorithm based on K-means clustering and improved random walk is proposed and Semi-automated segmentation of calcified plaque, fibrotic plaque and lipid pool was achieved. And the weight function of random walk is improved. The distance between the edges of pixels in the image and the seed points is added to the definition of the weight function. It increases the weak edge weights and prevent over-segmentation. Based on the above methods, the OCT images of 9 coronary atherosclerotic patients were selected for plaque segmentation. By contrasting the doctor’s manual segmentation results with this method, it was proved that this method had good robustness and accuracy. It is hoped that this method can be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of coronary heart disease.
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography to assess the anterior segment morphology of hyperopia in school-aged children. 320 eyes of 160 school-aged children, 6-12 years of age, were examined with anterior segment optical coherence tomography and were divided into four groups according to the cycloplegic spherical equivalence of refractive error. The mentioned four groups were: emmetropia group, low hyperopia group, moderate hyperopia group and high hyperopia group. The measurements of central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area and scleral angle were compared in pairs among objects in the four groups. The results showed that high hyperopia and moderate hyperopia had shallower anterior chamber depth and narrower anterior chamber angle compared to those in emmetropia group. The study also showed that anterior segment optical coherence tomography as a non-contact technology could become a new technology for accessing the anterior segment morphology of hyperopia in school-aged children.
ObjectiveTo observe the histopathological changes in peripheral retinal lesions under intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT). Methods A retrospective case series study. Eighty-eight patients (194 eyes) who underwent vitreoretinal surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology at the East Ward of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2021 to May 2022 in 94 eyes were included in the study. Among them, 49 cases were male and 39 cases were female, with the mean age of (50.93±17.55) years. Ninety-four eyes included 32 eyes with retinal detachment, 6 eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 28 eyes with vitreous hemorrhage, 8 eyes with ocular trauma, 14 eyes with the macular lesion, 1 eye with uveitis, 1 eye with family exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), 1 eye with acute retinal necrosis (ARN), and 3 eyes with lens dislocation. All affected eyes were examined with iOCT during vitreoretinal surgery. The iOCT scanning of the peripheral retina was performed with the help of episcleral pressure. The pre-equatorial and serrated edge anterior and posterior of retinas were scanned according to the characteristics of different fundus diseases. Various abnormal fundus manifestations were recorded. Results In 94 eyes, 53 eyes (56.38%, 53/94) have different types of retinopathy in the peripheral retina. Of these, 7 eyes (7.45%) have retinal cystoid degeneration; 19 eyes (20.21%) have lattice degeneration; and 8 eyes (8.51%) have pigment degeneration; 9 eyes (9.57%) have pavement-like degeneration; 7 eyes (7.45%) have small occult holes; 1 eye (1.06%) has familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) serrated edge "dyke-like" proliferative degeneration; 4 eyes (4.26%) have vitreous and retinopathy adhesions; and one eye (1.06%) has ARN. Conclusion With clear refractive media, iOCT can provide clear scans of different peripheral retinal lesions.
ObjectiveTo analyze the associations between the choroidal vasculature and submacular fluid (SMF) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). MethodsA retrospective study. A total of 29 CSC patients (31 eyes) with complete records who visited the Department of Ophthalmology in Peking University People's Hospital from August 1, 2021 to March 1, 2023 were included in this study. The patients were divided into complete absorption and incomplete absorption groups according to the status of SMF in the last visit. All the patients underwent ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (UWF SS-OCTA) with a scanning range of 24 mm × 20 mm. The UWF SS-OCTA images were automatically analyzed in 9 regions (superotemporal, superior, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, inferior, and inferonasal). Alterations of choroidal vasculature in the nine subfields after SMF absorption were described, including choroidal thickness (CT), flow density of choriocapillaris layer, vessel density of large choroidal vessel layer, three-dimensional choroidal vascularity index (CVI), the mean choroidal vessel volume (mCVV), and the mean choroidal stroma volume (mCSV). The relevant factors affecting the complete absorption of SMF were additionally evaluated. ResultsAt baseline, CT (Z=2.859, P=0.004), mCVV (t=2.514, P=0.018), and mCSV (Z=2.958, P=0.003) in the superotemporal region of the affected eyes in the incomplete absorption group were significantly higher than those in the complete absorption group. Compared with baseline, at the last visit, the proportion of asymmetric vortex veins in the complete absorption group was significantly decreased (χ2=6.000, P=0.014), CVI in the superotemporal, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, and inferonasal regions (t=－4.125, t=－3.247, Z=－3.213, t=－2.994, t=－3.417, t=－3.733, t=－3.795; P=0.001, 0.006, 0.001, 0.010, 0.005, 0.003, 0.002), the mCVV of 9 regions (t=－2.959, t=－2.537, t=－2.235, t=－3.260, t=－3.022, t=－2.796, t=－2.747, Z=－2.107, t=－2.935; P=0.011, 0.025, 0.044, 0.006, 0.010, 0.015, 0.017, 0.035, 0.012) were significantly decreased. Compared to the complete absorption group, the choroidal blood flow changes in the non-complete absorption group were more limited, and CT in the upper region increased significantly at the last follow-up (t=2.272, P=0.037). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that baseline CT in the superotemporal region may be an independent risk factor affecting the complete absorption of SMF (odds ratio=0.981, 95% confidential interval 0.965-0.997, P=0.021). ConclusionsIn the process of SMF absorption in CSC, significant reductions of choroidal blood flow were found in the large choroidal vessel layer, and there may be a locally compensatory increase in CT. In addition, baseline CT in superotemporal region is an independent risk factor affecting SMF absorption.
ObjectiveTo examine the postoperative morphological changes in outer retinal wave-like changes (ORC) in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From March 2020 to March 2024, 64 eyes of 64 RRD patients diagnosed at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University were included. The cohort included 39 males (39 eyes) and 25 females (25 eyes), with a mean age of (45.3±15.7) years and a mean retinal detachment duration of (16.6±13.5) days. Macular involvement was observed in 51 eyes. Scleral buckling surgery (SB), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and SB+PPV were performed in 17, 44, and 3 eyes respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations were performed in all affected eyes. BCVA examination was performed using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, and the visual acuity was converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) during statistics. Combined with the ORC situation before the operation, the morphological repositioning of outer retinal folds (ORF) after the operation was classified into types Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ. One week and one and three months after the operation, relevant examinations were performed using the same equipment and methods as before the operation. The structural characteristics of ORC and the morphology of ORF after surgery were observed. The comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test or the Mann-Whitney U test. ResultsAmong the 64 eyes, preoperative ORC was present in 46 eyes (71.9%, 46/64) and absent in 18 eyes (28.1%, 18/64). The 18 eyes without ORC had retinal detachment durations of either ≤4 days or ≥42 days. Postoperatively, ORF was observed in 51 eyes (79.7%, 51/64) and absent in 13 eyes (20.3%, 13/64). Among the 51 eyes with macular holes involved, 24 eyes (47.1%, 24/51) had ORF after the operation and 27 eyes (52.9%, 27/51) had no ORF. Among the 46 and 18 eyes with and without ORC, the ORF after surgery was 28 (60.9%, 28/46) and 1 (5.6%, 1/18) eyes, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the reduction rate of ORF after surgery between eyes with and without ORC (χ2=15.974, P＜0.001). Among the 46 eyes with ORC, the proportions of ORF to types Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ after surgery were 24 (52.2%, 24/46), 20 (43.5%, 20/46), and 2 (4.3%, 2/46) eyes, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ORF after different surgical methods in eyes with ORC (P＞0.05). One week and one month after the surgery, the logMAR BCVA of the affected eyes with and without ORF was 0.97±0.47, 0.69±0.34 and 0.85±0.32, 0.54±0.21, respectively. The BCVA of those without ORF was better than that of those with ORF, but the differences were not statistically significant (t=0.237, 0.408; P＞0.05). ConclusionsThe occurrence of ORC in RRD eyes has a certain relationship with the time of retinal detachment. For RRD eyes with ORC before the operation, the repositioning morphology after the operation is more likely to show changes in ORF. The transformation from ORC to ORF after ORC surgery has no correlation with the surgical method.
We aimed to establish an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system to measure the strain of blood vessels. A general OCT system was constructed firstly and its reliability was confirmed by comparing the OCT imaging of the porcine coronary and the corresponding histological slices. The strain of the porcine coronary was induced by static flow pressure and correlation algorithm was used to calculate the strain field of blood vessels within OCT images. The results suggest that bright-dark stratification of blood vessels displayed in OCT images is consistent with the intima and media layers of histological image. Furthermore, the strain of media layer is greater than that of the intima layer under the same static pressure. The optical coherence imaging system could not only measure the histological structure of the blood vessels, but also qualify the vessel strain under flow pressure.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of chorioidal thickness (ChT) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in different mode of vortic venous dilation. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional observational study. A total of 80 patients with 89 eyes (CSC group) diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command from April to October 2023 were included in the study. Among them, 64 males had 71 eyes and 17 females had 18 eyes. A total of 15 healthy volunteers matched in age and sex were selected as the control group. Among them, 14 men had 26 eyes and one woman had two eyes. The macular region was examined by ultra-wide-angle scanning frequency source optical coherence tomography (OCTA) with BM400K BMizar made by TowardPi (Beijing) Medical Technology Co., LTD. Scanning rate 1 536 A scanning×1 280 B scanning, scanning range 24 mm×20 mm. The accompanying software delineated nine subfields (superotemporal, upper, superonasal, temporal, central, nasal, inferotemporal, lower, inferonasal regions) to record ChT. En-face OCTA mode was utilized to observe the anatomy and functional anastomosis of the vortex veins above and below the choroidal blood layer. Eyes in the CSC group were further categorized into upper-dominant, symmetrical, and lower-dominant groups based on the difference in vortex vein expansion shown in the choroidal layer of the en-face image, with 36, 35, and 18 eyes respectively. Statistical analysis included the use of independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney test for comparison between two groups, one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis H test for comparison between multiple groups, and the χ test or Fisher test for categorical variables. ResultsCompared with the control group, ChT in the CSC group was thickened in the foveal area and different areas of the macula, with the greatest difference in the fovea, and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.345, 5.018, 2.902, 4.667, 7.276, 3.307, 3.868, 4.795, 2.583; P＜0.05). Compared with the ChT of the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in the superotemporal, region of the upper-dominant group (t=1.510, P＞0.05); in other regions, the differences were statistically significant (t=3.207, 5.163, 2.526, 4.310, 6.285, 2.656, 3.812, 2.173; P＜0.05). The differences in the foveal area and other areas in the symmetrical group were statistically significant (t=4.488, 5.554, 3.457, 5.314, 7.256, 3.507, 5.584, 6.019, 2.994; P＜0.05). In the superotemporal, and superonasal, regions of the lower dominant group, the differences were not statistically significant (t=1.150, 1.465; P＜0.05); in other regions, the differences were statistically significant (t=2.278, 4.168, 5.244, 2.783, 5.040, 3.432, 2.095; P＜0.05). ConclusionThe dilated distribution of vortex veins on en-face ultra-wide-angle OCTA has a corresponding relationship with ChT. In eyes with CSC, the superior vortex vein drainage system may be the primary route for choroidal drainage.
ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the correlations between aqueous humor cytokine concentrations and disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), as well as postoperative visual acuity, in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM). MethodsA prospective clinical study. From November 2022 to October 2024, 40 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with iERM at Ophthalmology Center of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital) underwent cataract surgery alone or combined with pars plana vitrectomy (iERM group) were enrolled; 19 eyes of 19 patients undergoing cataract surgery alone during the same period served as the control group. All eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). BCVA was assessed using a logarithmic visual acuity chart and converted to the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for statistical analysis. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured using SS-OCT. The iERM group was further subdivided into DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups (21 eyes and 19 eyes, respectively), based on the presence or absence of DRIL. Aqueous humor samples were collected preoperatively from eyes in both the iERM and control groups. Concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, hepatocyte growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), placental growth factor (PLGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Follow-up examinations using the same equipment and methods were performed at 1 month postoperatively. Aqueous cytokine levels were compared between the iERM group, control group, DRIL-positive subgroup, and DRIL-negative subgroup. Correlations between aqueous cytokine levels in the iERM group and BCVA or CMT were also analyzed. Intergroup comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test; correlations between variables were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation analysis. ResultsCompared to the control group, the iERM group exhibited significantly higher aqueous concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, and TNF-α (P＜0.05). Compared to the DRIL-negative subgroup, the DRIL-positive subgroup showed significantly elevated aqueous concentrations of TGF-β3, PDGF-AB, PLGF, GDNF, ICAM-1, Ang-1, Ang-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P＜0.05). Significant differences were observed in logMAR BCVA (P=0.028) and CMT (P＜0.001) within the iERM group between preoperative and 1-month postoperative measurements. LogMAR BCVA differed significantly between the DRIL-positive and DRIL-negative subgroups (P=0.048). Correlation analysis revealed that baseline aqueous levels of VEGF-A and IL-6 in eyes with DRIL were positively correlated with postoperative BCVA (r=0.324, 0.452; P=0.042, 0.003). No significant correlation was found between CMT and any cytokine (P＞0.05). ConclusionsAqueous humor cytokines are closely associated with DRIL in iERM patients. IL-6 and VEGF-A may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for early postoperative visual recovery.